New York Jets are reportedly in the Stephon Gilmore sweepstakes
Joe Douglas and the New York Jets have focused solely on the offensive side of the football through the first few hours of the 2022 NFL free agency period.
Could they kick off their defensive plan with a monumental splash?
According to Connor Hughes of The Athletic, the Jets are one of three teams in the running for free agent cornerback Stephon Gilmore, along with the San Francisco 49ers and Las Vegas Raiders.
The three teams in on Stephon Gilmore are the #Jets, #49ers and #Raiders, sources tell @VicTafur, @LombardiHimself and me.
Jets, 49ers believed to be most interested. 49ers hoping to get Gilmore for below what Jackson, Davis got ($15-$16 APY).
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) March 14, 2022
Hughes adds that the Jets and 49ers appear to be the two most interested teams. Gilmore’s pursuers are hoping to snag him for less than $15-16 million per year, which is about the price that fellow free-agent cornerbacks Carlton Davis ($15 million, Buccaneers) and J.C. Jackson ($16.5 million, Chargers) were signed for.
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While the 2019 Defensive Player of the Year has not reached the same heights he did in that special campaign, Gilmore has continued playing at a high level despite being on the wrong side of 30.
In eight games for the Carolina Panthers this past season, Gilmore recorded a pair of interceptions and allowed only 155 yards on throws into his direction (17.2 per game). Gilmore allowed a passer rating of 80.7 into his coverage, which is nowhere near the 47.4 mark he recorded in his epic 2019 campaign but remains a solid number.
Gilmore missed seven games to begin the 2021 season due to his recovery from a quad injury that he suffered late in the previous season. He was then traded to Carolina from the New England Patriots for a 2023 sixth-round pick. Gilmore missed the Panthers’ final two games with a groin injury.
A five-time Pro Bowler, Gilmore will turn 32 in September.
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Don’t you do it, Joey! Back away from the negotiations now. Nice and slow.
This would be a terrible signing, he’s old and the jets had an opportunity to get young better CB in free agency. This is not an ideal signing of a player that will be 32 and injured most of the time. If they sign him I give them an F
I agree, I don’t care how good he WAS, that’s way too much money for a 32 year old CB. I don’t think Connor has a good source on this one. It doesn’t fit the plan AT ALL.