Heading into free agency, veteran cornerback Stephon Gilmore made a ton of sense to be on the Detroit Lions’ radar. That idea took a natural hit with the acquisition of Carlton Davis and the signing of Amik Robertson. Then the idea came back again when the warrant for Cameron Sutton’s arrest came to full light, and the Lions released him.
Meanwhile, Gilmore remains available with very little real buzz around any interest in him. He said he’s open to going back to the New England Patriots, and more recently a report suggested he wants to go back to the Carolina Panthers after high school and college teammate Jadeveon Clowney landed there
Gilmore will turn 34 early in the 2024 season. He’s still plenty capable though, and it’s fair to assume he’d like the best possible chance to win another Super Bowl as soon as possible. That’s not happening next season, at least, in New England or Carolina. But here now on April 1, it’s hard to know the full extent of his options. But there are multiple teams that would seem to be good fits.
Perhaps none more than the Lions.
Brad Spielbeger of Pro Football Focus recently refreshed his list of best landing spots for the top available free agents, and he maintained the Lions as the one for Gilmore.
On March 30, on a list of available free agents who could still be key contributors, Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report had the Lions second among three potential team fits for Gilmore. After a mention of the Panthers, Ballentine hit at the hear of the matter for someone like Gilmore.
‘There are teams with a better shot at winning who have cap space and a need at corner. The Detroit Lions have money and are coming off an NFC championship run.”
Ballentine also had the Lions on his list of team fits for former Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard.
On March 28, Dallas Robinson of Pro Football Network named the Lions as the best fit for Gilmore.
“Head coach Dan Campbell admitted this week that Detroit could add another CB before the draft, and Stephon Gilmore is the best defensive back on the market. The 34-year-old proved he was still a CB1 after being traded from the Indianapolis Colts to the Cowboys in 2023, appearing in all 17 games while playing primarily single coverage.”
These kind of lists are what they are, in terms of reporting and rumors with substantial teeth being put out there. But the Gilmore-to-Detroit bandwagon is growing, and the longer he remains available the more it makes sense for the Lions from a cost perspective.
