It was only two years ago, in 2019, that Stephon Gilmore won NFL Defensive Player of the Year after dazzling and locking down number one wide receivers week in and week out for the New England Patriots. Oh, how quickly things can change.
The 2019 season was a banner one for Gilmore, culminating in the award. Fast forward to 2020, and there were constant and heavy rumors at the NFL trade deadline that Gilmore could be on his way out of New England. No deal was ever made. Fast forward a little more, to this offseason, and the rumors popped up again. Still, no deal was made and Gilmore is still a New England Patriot. Given all that has happened in just the last two seasons, it's Gilmore who is still open to working out an extension with the Patriots.
With a contract hit of $15.8 million on the books, it's not a surprise that Gilmore would aim towards and be open for a win-win scenario. According to ProFootballTalk, it's noted that Albert Breer of SI.com has reported that Gilmore is “very open” to an extension this offseason that would help the team out now. The win-win scenario is simple: Gilmore gets the extension and the assurance that he will be under contract for years to come and New England frees up some cap space for the now to continue bulldozing their way through this offseason.
Given New England's track record, this seems questionable. Bill Belichick and the Patriots have long gone the way of getting rid of players a year early instead of a year late. At 30-years old and having torn his quad last season, the writing could be on the wall here that Gilmore's time in New England is ticking fast.
Gilmore is open to an extension. Whether or not New England remains interested is a mystery.
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