2019 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Stephon Gilmore, Leaving New England Patriots

The New England Patriots and Stephon Gilmore are done. According to the latest intel coming from Foxborough, the Pats are going to release one of the best cornerbacks in the league.

There are certain speculations that he might be traded before 4 pm ET today and that, for the moment, the Packers are the top favorites to get him.

The player already said goodbye to the fans on his social networks. He would thank all those who helped him while staying with the Pats.

“It is with mixed emotions that I announce goodbye to this great fan base. 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.”

A stunner: Patriots are releasing four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Stephon Gilmore, who was eligible to come off the Physically Unable to Perform List after Week 6, source tells ESPN. pic.twitter.com/31H8KQF8hq

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 6, 2021

The Patriots and the player couldn’t arrange a new contract, which eventually led to this situation. They were currently only $54,000 under the salary cap limit and didn’t have enough resources to fulfill the player’s requests. Gilmore was in the last season of his five-year $65 million deal and was about to earn $7 million.

He was unhappy with the salary for a long time, always emphasizing that he isn’t even among the top ten paid players in his position.

Gilmore was one of the most important parts of New England’s machinery that won the Super Bowl LIII, terminating the Rams’ offense in the title match. He would seal NE’s victory with an interception on Jared Goff, bringing the last Vince Lombardy trophy to Foxborough.

A year later, Gilmore won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award and was the NFL co-leader in the number of interceptions. He is also a two-time First-team All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowl selection.

Before coming to New England, Gilmore played for the Buffalo Bills, establishing himself as one of the most talented CBs. The Bills picked him as the 10th overall selection at the 2012 NFL draft, and he immediately became a massive contributor.

In December last year, the 31-year old tore his quad and had to undergo surgery that separated him from the field for a long time. He was supposed to come off the physically unable to perform list after Week 6, but things between him and the Pats escalated in the meantime.

Gilmore already missed the mandatory minicamp in June, wanting to negotiate a new contract. According to some sources, the Pats, and the player did try to arrange a deal in the past few weeks, but without any success.

New England might decide to trade the player, and so far, the frontrunners to get him are allegedly the Green Bay Packers. Aaron Rodgers desperately wants to win the title, and he most definitely pressured the management to chase Gilmore. The current NFL MVP has much more influence in the team’s moves than in the previous few years after he threatened to leave Green Bay this summer.

However, if by any chance the Pats decide to release Gilmore, Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the top favorites for landing him. Some insiders are suggesting that Tom Brady already reached out to his former teammate trying to recruit him.

Other teams that are in the mix are the Baltimore Ravens, the Tennessee Titans, and the Dallas Cowboys, who are also pushing hard to win the title this season.