Update: The Patriots traded Gilmore to the Carolina Panthers for a 2023 sixth-round draft pick.

Original Story

The New England Patriots are releasing Stephon Gilmore, according to ESPN, putting one of the best defensive players of the last few years on the open market. The cornerback is expected to have many suitors, including some of the NFL’s top Super Bowl contenders.

The defending champions top the list of possible destinations for Gilmore. In desperate need of help in the secondary, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are expected to pursue the veteran and former longtime teammate of Tom Brady.

Tampa Bay’s top three cornerbacks suffered injuries within the first month of the 2021 NFL season. Jamel Deal didn’t play in Week 4 against New England, and Carlton Davis was carted to the locker room during the contest with a quad injury. Sean Murphy-Bunting has been on injured reserve since the opening week.

The Bucs’ secondary is so banged up that Richard Sherman started in Week 4 just days after he was signed as a free agent. Safety Antoine Winfield Jr. could miss the team’s Week 5 matchup with the Miami Dolphins as he tries to clear concussion protocol.

Tampa Bay is likely one of the most attractive options for Gilmore. The Bucs are tied for first place in the NFC South and favored to represent the conference in the Super Bowl. Brady was Gilmore’s teammate in New England and is still playing as well as any quarterback in the league.

The Green Bay Packers should be among Tampa Bay’s chief competitors to land Gilmore. The Packers are expected to pursue the four-time Pro Bowl selection. Green Bay was defeated by Tampa Bay in the 2021 NFC Championship Game.

The Bucs have allowed the most passing yards in the NFL this season. The Packers have allowed opposing quarterbacks to post a 100.2 passer rating.

The Kansas City Chiefs are also a logical landing spot for Gilmore because of their struggling defense and Super Bowl chances. Only the Atlanta Falcons have surrendered more points than Kansas City. The Chiefs have made two straight Super Bowl appearances and three consecutive trips to the AFC Championship Game.

New England and Gilmore are parting ways after the two sides couldn’t agree on a newly restructured contract. Gilmore hasn’t played this season as he recovers from a torn quad that required surgery in December.

Gilmore was named the 2019 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, becoming the first cornerback to win the award in a decade.

Stephon Gilmore New England Patriots
Stephon Gilmore #24 of the New England Patriots waits to take the field prior to the game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on December 20, 2020 in Miami Gardens, Florida. Mark Brown/Getty Images
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