Stephon Gilmore is one of the best cornerbacks of his generation, but the former Defensive Player of the Year is reportedly considering retirement ahead of his age-35 season. While he’s not the player he once was, the five-time Pro Bowler remained an effective part of one of the league’s better defenses last year. Starting in 15 games for the Minnesota Vikings, Gilmore finished the year with one interception, nine passes defended, 56 tackles, and a 62.2 PFF grade, the 69th-best mark of 116 eligible players.
When asked about his future, the cornerback sounded noncommittal. While he acknowledged retirement is possible, it sounds like he could return if he finds the right fit.
“It’s more this year,” Gilmore said, via Andrew Kramer of the Minnesota Star Tribune. “Older, body feeling it a bit more. Just wasn’t thinking about it during the season, but now looking back at how I feel, I’ll definitely be thinking about [retirement].”
Perhaps the two-time First-Team All-Pro has played the final snap of his career, or perhaps a change of scenery could inspire him to come back for one more season. Looking across the league, the Carolina Panthers and Baltimore Ravens seem like the best fits if Stephon Gilmore wants to avoid retirement.
Stephon Gilmore Contemplates Retirement – Panthers, Ravens Could Convince Him to Play
The Carolina Panthers probably won’t win the Super Bowl in 2025, but their arrow is pointing up. Despite their underwhelming 5-12 record, this team has every reason to feel great about the future. 2023 first-overall pick Bryce Young played like a legitimate franchise quarterback down the stretch, the offensive line is great, and the team has multiple promising young pass catchers. With a solid head coach in Dave Canales, this team could compete in a weak NFC South if they fix the defense.
Most of Carolina’s offensive improvements last year came at the expense of the defense. The team never found a proper replacement for Brian Burns or Frankie Luvu, and while cornerback Michael Jackson was a pleasant surprise, this team needs more help in the secondary. Combining Gilmore with Pro Bowler Jaycee Horn and (hopefully) a re-signed Jackson will give Carolina three starting-caliber cornerback, which is a must in today’s pass-happy NFL.
If the team can find another pass rusher, Carolina should be good enough to compete for a playoff spot. While they’re still a year or two away from being legitimate contenders, Stephon Gilmore should welcome the opportunity to be a part of this turnaround. The cornerback almost signed in Carolina last year, and now it’s time for the two sides to reunite.
Cost-Effective Help
As of this posting, the Carolina Panthers have two reliable cornerbacks in Marlon Humphrey and former first-round pick Nate Wiggins. While Wiggins isn’t going anywhere, Humphrey may have played his last snap in Baltimore. While the veteran is still a good player, he carries a $25.3 million cap hit with no guaranteed money. Baltimore can save $15.7 million with a release, which might be necessary if they want to re-sign players like left tackle Ronnie Stanley.
The present-day version of Stephon Gilmore is not as good as Humphrey, but he could be a better value from a dollar-for-dollar standpoint. Even if the team decides to keep Humphrey, Baltimore could use another cornerback. When you share a division with Joe Burrow and a conference with Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, and Justin Herbert, there is no such thing as too many reliable defensive backs. The Ravens should be one of the league’s top contenders in 2025, and Stephon Gilmore would probably love the opportunity to walk into retirement as a two-time Super Bowl champion.
Main Photo: Mark J. Rebilas – Imagn Images
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