Stephon Gilmore traded from Patriots to Panthers in surprise deal
In some stunning NFL news, it’s been reported that the New England Patriots have traded Stephon Gilmore to the Carolina Panthers.
Bad news has come in for Kansas City Chiefs and Green Bay Packers fans hoping Stephon Gilmore would be making his way to town. It’s not going to happen. Instead, the stud cornerback is headed to the NFC South.
Hours before Gilmore was set to hit free agency after it was announced he had been released by the Patriots, New England has instead traded him to the Carolina Panthers. In the deal, Carolina sent the Pats a 2023 sixth-round pick in exchange for the defensive back.
The Panthers gave the Patriots a 2023 sixth-round pick for CB Stephon Gilmore, who was hours away from hitting free agency
— Matt Verderame (@MattVerderame) October 6, 2021
Patriots get draft pick for Stephon Gilmore from Panthers
For Carolina, a young defense now adds some veteran experience in Gilmore. The 2019 NFL Defensive Player of the Year will pair with second-year corner C.J. Henderson — who the Panthers traded for last week — once Gilmore returns from the PUP list.
Gilmore, 31, is a two-time First-Team All-Pro and has reached the Pro Bowl in each of the last three seasons. A South Carolina native, Gilmore gets to be closer to home while helping the Panthers in their quest to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2017.
For Carolina, this is a home run. The Panthers are 3-1 and in the NFC South, which gives them some winnable games against the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons down the stretch. And, in a division run by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and their loaded receiver room, Carolina can now match up.