This Eagles-Patriots Trade for Stephon Gilmore Could Actually Work
By Michael Luciano
Now that Tom Brady has officially decided to leave the New England Patriots in free agency, the organization could be pivoting towards a complete rebuild, as the organization might be on the verge of trading the reigning Defensive Player of the Year if extension talks don't materialize.
Cornerback Stephon Gilmore and his $18.6 million cap his next season could be on the verge of either a new contract or a trade. The Philadelphia Eagles, who just acquired Darius Slay from the Detroit Lions, should be all over the best corner in football if he is available.
Certainly doing something with Gilmore should be on the table, too -- either a new extension, or a trade. https://t.co/STxo5vMNgb
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) March 25, 2020
Philly has over $30 million in cap space, so taking on his contract will not be a burden.
Gilmore will almost certainly require a first-round pick in any potential trade, so pick No. 21 will have to head to New England. While Philly traded their original third-round pick in the Slay deal, they still have a compensatory pick that could be sent New England's way.
The Eagles will need to give the Patriots one of their many young defenders in a Gilmore trade. While defensive end Derek Barnett would be the player Belichick could be eyeing to beef up a depleted New England defensive line, cornerbacks Avonte Maddox and Rasul Douglas could also be on their way to New England.
Active players:
— Cap Space=$1,785,084 (@patscap) March 17, 2020
Stephon Gilmore 18,670,833
Joe Thuney 14,781,000
Dont'a Hightower 12,445,313
Julian Edelman 9,666,666
Marcus Cannon 9,622,916
Shaq Mason 8,712,500
Dead Money
Tom Brady 13,500,000
Antonio Brown 4,750,000
Michael Bennett 2,000,000 https://t.co/BsOHpfz0Du
In one offseason, the Eagles could go from no cornerbacks to probably the best 1-2 tandem of corners in all of football in Slay and Gilmore. Meanwhile, New England will enter a psuedo-rebuild for the first time in two decades.