Stephon Gilmore needs to be in a Dallas Cowboys uniform in 2024

As we sit here on May 3rd, Stephon Gilmore is still currently a free agent.

Let’s just get it out of the way now, Ezekiel Elliott’s change in number from 21 to 15 reportedly has nothing to do with a return of Gilmore, at least for now.

Hold off on buying a No. 21 jersey for Ezekiel Elliott. Told he will be moving to No. 15, which he wore in New England and Ohio State. Trey Lance will move to No. 19. Not sure it means much at the moment for the return of Stephon Gilmore, who wore 21 last year, just yet.

— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) May 1, 2024

Earlier this offseason, the Cowboys resigned Jourdan Lewis to keep the cornerback room beefed up a bit. Still, in a passing league, a former Defensive Player of The Year is a free agent, so why not bring him back?

If the Cowboys did not have Gilmore last year when Trevon Diggs went down, they would have been even worse. He proved to everyone that he can still play at a high level.

Diggs will return in 2024 from his ACL injury, but having a guy like Gilmore still back there with DaRon Bland would be huge for Mike Zimmer’s new-look defense.

Don’t Overthink It

With what the Cowboys are working with this season, having Brandin Cooks back for one more year works well for the younger players on offense. Now if they would stop playing around and sign Gilmore, it would help them more than we think.

I don’t mind that Gilmore is 33 years old. He showed us he could play at a high level still. Getting Diggs back with Bland and JLew, that cornerback room could be one of the best in football.

Potential or production?

— The Gilly Lock (@BumpNrunGilm0re) May 2, 2024

Outside of Jadeveon Clowney trying to get him to return to the Carolina Panthers, things have been quiet for Gilmore.

Zeke says the jersey change is just like a new chapter in Dallas. Although he only signed for one year.

Leaving 21 wide open for Gilmore to make his way back and claim the number he wore after Zeke spent last season with the Pats in New England.

Gilmore had 68 tackles, 13 passes defended, and two interceptions for the Cowboys last season. He only allowed four passing touchdowns and allowed a 60.3 passer rating when targeted.

I Understand The Problem

According to Spotrac, Gilmore’s market value is somewhere in the neighborhood of $8.96 million to $9 million on a one-year contract.

The Cowboys could make that work if they got deals done with CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons, yet Jerry Jones is doing what he always does, playing with his food.

I am sure Gilmore would take less to return to Dallas for one more season. Yet a part of me thinks he will end up in Washington somehow with Dan Quinn like the other half of the defense from a year ago.

It is easy to sit here and talk about it, but Gilmore is a problem the best remaining free agent out there even ahead of Tyler Boyd and Odell Beckman.

There is nothing imminent on a potential return for CB Stephon Gilmore, a person familiar with the situation said. Gilmore wore No. 21 for the Cowboys in 2023. https://t.co/p4pGO72B6Z

— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) May 1, 2024

It would just be nice if the Cowboys looked like they cared about trying to win, instead, Jerry Jones’s “all-in,” plan has become a joke.

I like the young guys as much as the next fan, but this has gotten you 4 playoff wins in nearly 30 years, dude.

Let’s see what happens this summer. Knowing my luck the moment I put this blog post out, Gilmore will sign somewhere else and make me look like an idiot.

I would enjoy having Gilmore back for one more season before this team is possibly blown up.

Dak Prescott and others could very well be on the way out if they don’t even make the playoffs or choke again like they did last year in the first round.

If they don’t resign Gilmore, I find it hard to believe that they will sign anyone else before the season starts in September. Gilmore is the last chance this team has to get any better at all.