In a surprising turn of events, the New England Patriots are set to release Stephon Gilmore on Wednesday. He's currently injured, but according to Adam Schefter, he will be available “in the coming weeks.” Gilmore was in a contract dispute with New England, and a restructured deal couldn't be reached. It's time to evaluate Stephon Gilmore's best destinations for the 2021 NFL season.

There will be multiple franchises inquiring about Stephon Gilmore's availability. He has been one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL for quite some time, winning Defensive Player of the Year in 2019 with the Patriots. Although he's currently healing from an injury, the star cornerback will be fetching a hefty price tag.

When it comes down to it, five teams stand out amongst the rest of the crowd. Gilmore is likely to sign with a franchise that can offer him a decent amount of money while simultaneously being a Super Bowl contender. It'll be interesting to see how it plays out, as someone is going to drastically improve their secondary. With that said, here are the five teams that should be considered as Stephon Gilmore's best destinations.

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Stephon Gilmore Best Destinations

5. Seattle Seahawks

Due to their incredibly terrible defense, the Seattle Seahawks have to consider signing Stephon Gilmore to the roster. The Seahawks allow an insane amount of yards through the air, which has played a large role in their recent struggles. Signing the Patriots' former star cornerback could be exactly what this team needs to gain the advantage in the NFC West.

4. Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys' defense has been noticeably better so far this season. With Gilmore available, the Cowboys have a chance to secure a top defender onto their roster. Trevon Diggs has been lights out so far, and bringing in Stephon Gilmore would give Dallas a dangerous one-two punch in the secondary. Jerry Jones is never afraid to go after big-name free agents, so we should see the Cowboys involved in the race to sign him.

3. Kansas City Chiefs

It's no secret the Kansas City Chiefs have one of the best offenses in the league. However, their defense has been holding them back this year. They've been torched through the air, applying unnecessary pressure on Patrick Mahomes and the offense. Kansas City clearly needs a lot of help in the secondary, and Stephon Gilmore provides just that. This could be an incredible landing spot, as Gilmore would be joining a Super Bowl-caliber team.

2. Tennessee Titans

There were rumors throughout the offseason that the Tennessee Titans had inquired about trading for Stephon Gilmore. Nothing ever came to fruition and now that he's set to be a free agent, the Titans are likely to come calling. The defense has improved from last season, but the pass coverage is still struggling. Signing Gilmore could be the missing piece the Titans need to become a legitimate contender in the AFC.

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The defending Super Bowl champions likely have the best chance of signing Gilmore to a one-year deal. He has a history of playing with Tom Brady, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers need help in pass coverage. This is a stacked roster and bringing in Stephon Gilmore gives the Buccaneers exactly what they need to improve. They already have the best rush defense in the NFL, so signing Gilmore could provide a massive upgrade in their pass coverage after they brought in Richard Sherman last week.