Stephon Gilmore: Patriots sign former Bills cornerback to 5-year, $65 million deal

Cornerback Stephon Gilmore will sign with the defending Super Bowl champions, keeping their elite defense strong.

The New England Patriots are fresh off yet another Super Bowl victory after producing the top defense in the NFL. Patriots head coach Bill Belichick refuses to take his foot off the gas even after five Super Bowl wins. The rich have become even richer. The Patriots will sign former Buffalo Bills cornerback Stephon Gilmore to a five-year, $65 million contract. ESPN insider Adam Schefter broke the news on Twitter while revealing the details of Gilmore’s new contract.

Gilmore proved to be a reliable and solid cornerback for the Bills defense. He cashed in on his finest season, which included five interceptions in 2016. This was enough to send him to his first Pro Bowl. Gilmore has lived up to his expectations since being taken 10th overall in the 2012 draft.  However, the Bills elected not to use the franchise tag on the Pro Bowl corner as it would have been worth $14.3 million.

The Bills will receive the most painful blow possible in losing Gilmore, as he will join their most dominant AFC East rival. The Patriots have already been a thorn in their sides since the Tom Brady era began in 2001.

Meanwhile, the Patriots may possess the best secondary in the NFL if they manage to keep fellow cornerback Malcolm Butler. They still have Pro Bowl safety Devin McCourty in his prime even if free-agent cornerback Logan Ryan leaves in free agency.

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Butler is a free agent too, though. However, the Patriots have been linked to rumors that he will be traded to the New Orleans Saints for wide receiver Brandin Cooks. This would make the Patriots offense even more dangerous with a healthy Rob Gronkowski and a deep-threat wide receiver.