This Seahawks-Patriots Trade for Stephon Gilmore Could Actually Work

The New England Patriots had the wind knocked out of them a week ago when Tom Brady announced that he would play the 2020 season under Bruce Arians with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Brady leaving could force the New England Patriots to enter a major rebuild, and that process could begin in earnest by trading 2019 Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore, as Boston Globe reporter Ben Volin suggested could be the case if they don't give him a new contract.

The Seattle Seahawks need to be on the phone with the Patriots right now discussing a Gilmore trade.

While Gilmore is a man-to-man specialist, he has a high enough football IQ to stick in Seattle's zone defense. Seattle has pick No. 27 in that draft, and New England should try to swing that in any potential Gilmore trade. Seattle could also part ways with both of their second round picks in this year's draft if they don't land pick No. 27.

Seattle needs to get rid of one or two players in order to take on the $18.6 million cap hit that Gilmore will force upon them. Safety Bradley McDougald and his $5.4 million cap hit could head the other way in a deal that brings Gilmore to the Pacific Northwest. On the flip side, McDougald could give the Patriots another safety and allow them to dangle either Patrick Chung or Devin McCourty in trade talks to further continue the rebuild, especially with McDougald hitting free agency in 2021.

Gilmore seems like a weird fit for Seattle's scheme, but a smart coaching staff led by Pete Carroll and Ken Norton Jr. should find a way to use him and keep him among the best defensive players in the league.