Stephon Gilmore, Former Defensive Player Of The Year, Traded By Patriots
By Jason Hall
October 6, 2021
UPDATE:
The Carolina Panthers have acquired Stephon Gilmore in a trade with the New England Patriots, the team announced in a news release on Wednesday (October 6).
Gilmore announced his departure from the Patriots hours earlier, which seemed to imply he was cut prior to reports that New England was trying to trade him.
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Former NFL Defensive Player of the Year and Super Bowl champion Stephon Gilmore has reportedly been cut by the New England Patriots.
Gilmore confirmed the team's decision in a note addressed to "Pats Nation" shared on his verified social media accounts Wednesday (October 6) morning.
"It is with mixed emotions that I announce my goodbye to this great fan base," Gilmore wrote. "We enjoyed so much success together and you have been an incredible inspiration for my individual achievements. Thank you for supporting this Rock Hill kid and allowing him to achieve his NFL dreams.
"To Mr. Kraft, the coaches, and the organization thank you for providing me with this platform and allowing me to be part of greatness. Most of all I want to thank my teammates who lined up next to me every Sunday with one goal in mind. Those moments on and off the field will never be forgotten."
— The Gilly Lock (@BumpNrunGilm0re) October 6, 2021
Gilmore has not appeared in any of the Patriots' first four games of the 2021 season.
The 2019 Defensive Player of the Year skipped the team's mandatory mini camp in June amid a contract dispute before reporting to the Patriots' training camp session in July and was placed on the active/physically unable to perform list due to a partially torn quad injury he experienced in December.
Gilmore was in the final year of a 5-year, $65 million contract, which includes a $7 million base salary in 2021.
Gilmore's salary was 24th among all NFL cornerbacks, but his $16.265 million cap number is among the highest at the position, OverTheCap.com reported.
The 30-year-old veteran is in his 10th NFL season, having joined the Patriots in 2017.
Gilmore has since outplayed his initial $65 million deal and was expected to be among the top 10 players at his position, prior to experiencing a quad injury in 2020.