This Redskins-Patriots Trade for Stephon Gilmore Could Actually Work
By Michael Luciano
The New England Patriots are now forced to confront the reality of a life without Tom Brady after the QB departed to sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, finally plunging Pats Nation into the normalcy the rest of us have been mired in for decades.
Brady's decision could force the Patriots to hit the reset button, a move that end in them trading 2019 Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore.
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
Ron Rivera needs to make a big move to put the Washington Redskins on the map, and trading for Gilmore just a few days after sending Quinton Dunbar to the Seattle Seahawks would help jump start that defense.
The Redskins aren't giving up pick No. 2 in the 2020 NFL Draft, and the next highest selection Washington has that would have to go to New England is pick No. 66. The probable selection of Chase Young could force them to part with one of their promising defensive linemen. One of either Jonathan Allen, Da'Ron Payne, or Matt Ioannidis could head to New England in a potential trade.
The Redskins have more cap space than any team not named the Browns and Jets, so they can absorb Gilmore's contract that will pay him almost $40 million over the next two years.
Since 2017, 36 DBs have seen at least 200 targets as the nearest defender in coverage. Only Marlon Humphrey (49.2) and Stephon Gilmore (49.2) have allowed a lower comp pct than Darius Slay (51.8), per NextGen Stats.
— Tim McManus (@Tim_McManus) March 19, 2020
The Redskins have seen their division rivals in Philadephia, Dallas, and New York add the likes of Darius Slay, Gerald McCoy, and James Bradberry. In order to keep pace with the rest of the NFC East, the Redskins need to add a player of Gilmore's ilk to establish their defense as something teams will be scared of.