It’s either raining cats and dogs, or the Dallas Cowboys actually conducted a trade for an impact player.
I will go with the second part for once.
According to NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero, the Cowboys are acquiring veteran cornerback Stephon Gilmore from the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for a 2023 fifth-round compensatory pick.
This trade arguably marks the first significant move the Cowboys have made this off-season, as it’s massive for their defense. Not only does Gilmore bring Super Bowl pedigree to the franchise, but the team can now feel confident about their CB2 (Cornerback Two) position.
Although Gilmore is in the latter part of his NFL career, he still showed that he is reliable in coverage against opposing wideouts. And, if there was one that the team lacked last season — it was reliable coverage beyond CB Trevon Diggs.
To offer a perspective, Gilmore had a 90-plus percentile coverage grade on Pro Football Focus. Not too shabby for a 32-year-old cornerback.
While this may sway away the franchise from targeting a cornerback early, I feel if there is someone special — they will go after them. You can never have enough corners.
Plus, it doesn’t hurt to prepare for the future.
Gilmore will be 33 when the season kicks off, and you have him for one year on a $7.9M contract. However, for now, it’s safe to say the Boys can finally say they trust their backend of the defense.
And for the fans who may not like this trade, it was only for a fifth-round pick. Would you rather have a guy who may not start or crack the lineup at best or a proven corner? I think the choice is easy.
Welcome to Jerry World, Stephon.
