With the trade deadline arriving Tuesday, there’s a fair amount of curiosity whether the Patriots will be buyers or sellers.
If they wind up sellers, Stephon Gilmore has been the subject of the most trade rumors as of late. The reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year is the team’s highest-paid player, their best player, and a player who might conceivably land the most assets.
And Gilmore, who received a bump in pay this year, might be hearing whispers or getting a bit antsy. His house is up for sale, even though there’s a year left on his contract.
For his part, Patriots coach Bill Belichick denied knowledge of any Gilmore trade discussions on Wednesday during his video chat with reporters.
“Yeah, I don’t know anything about those,” Belichick said, when asked about various reports.
Typically, where there’s smoke, there’s fire. But the question remains: should the Patriots trade their top corner, or keep him in Foxboro?
The Herald’s Patriots beat writers debate.
Guregian: On the surface, it makes no sense to trade a shutdown corner, especially one of Gilmore’s caliber. Yes, he’s 30, but he still has plenty of good years left.
The trouble is the Pats are not going to pay him, especially in a rebuild situation. They gave him a bump this year, but it’s highly doubtful they’ll do the same next year. Paying stars top dollar who are up in age just hasn’t been Bill Belichick’s style.
He tends to rid himself of expensive talent sooner, rather than later. Logan Mankins, Richard Seymour and Lawyer Milloy are just a few examples. So instead of keeping a disgruntled player for another year, get whatever assets you can.
Callahan: What we know about the Patriots is any decision to quit on 2020 won’t be made easily. The ethos of that organization is to win at all costs, maximize every competitive edge and out-work their opponents. Therefore, and especially considering Bill Belichick turns 69 next year, they’ll plan on contending in 2021.
Gilmore helps them do that more than any other defender. If he’s dealt, J.C. Jackson and either Joejuan Williams or undrafted rookie Myles Bryant will be slated to start. Jason McCourty, 33, is headed for free agency. That’s no depth for a champion.
Keep Gilmore, and use the loads of cap space in 2021 and 2022 to extend him for another year, if warranted.
Guregian: They’ll have to do a lot more aside from retaining Gilmore to contend in 2021. Their quarterback situation, the most important position on the field, remains unsettled, and that’s even if Cam Newton turns it around this season. He’s an unrestricted free agent. The Patriots aren’t going to pay him top dollar, either.
They have to make a decision on Joe Thuney as well as a full slate of others currently in their walk years. They need assets, especially if they want a certain quarterback in the draft.
They do have lots of cap space, but at this point, who knows what the cap is going to be in 2021? The Patriots are just lacking in so many areas, they’ll need both cap space and assets to plug the holes.
Callahan: Whatever the cap is, the Patriots will rank top-5 in space for 2021 and likely 2022. Shipping Gilmore out to create even more room makes little sense. Let’s talk assets.
Basically, those are draft picks or young, ascending players on team-friendly contracts. No team is trading the latter for a 30-year-old corner paid at a market rate, especially given current cap circumstances. So, Gilmore fetches what … a second-rounder?
There is no recent evidence the Pats will convert that pick into positive returns. Their best draft choice of the past four years is either Michael Onwenu, a rookie O-lineman, or Chase Winovich, who can’t play on early downs!
Guregian: At age 30, going on 31, the best Gilmore is going to fetch is a second-rounder. It is what it is under the circumstances, and given the Patriots have laid some groundwork, shopping Gilmore during the offseason to perhaps establish a range of compensation, they have an idea what teams are willing to offer.
A contending team might offer more, but they’re at the stage where they need to get the most for him, especially if they lose to the Bills.
Callahan: But what player or pick will offer the Pats more bang for their buck than Gilmore? He’s the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, whose play could continue to slip slightly — even though Belichick and all his teammates tout his work ethic and preparation — and he would still be a quality No. 2 cornerback. There’s only one other player on the roster who can make that claim.
The Patriots want to contend ASAP, and the surest way to do that is by keeping players like Gilmore, not dealing them — especially given the likely lackluster returns.
Guregian: Watching recent games, Gilmore doesn’t seem as engaged as in the past. He’s always had a great work ethic and thoroughly prepares for each week’s opponent. That’s all very true. But something still seems off, to me.
This isn’t the same Gilmore who was DPOY last year. Maybe the 2-4 record has gotten a few of the players down, since it’s so out-of-the-ordinary for the Patriots. In Gilmore’s case, when you’re 30, heading into a final contract, you want to get one last payday, and not be a part of a rebuild.
At some point, whether now, or after the season, it just seems as if the Patriots will move on.
Callahan: And that may be true. But unless they fetch a first-round pick in return or some unexpected package, they should stay put and smooth out whatever may be transpiring behind the scenes. Gilmore is too valuable, playing a premium position at a high level. If the Patriots put a dent into one of their two remaining strengths — their secondary and offensive line — they’ll have little to build on moving forward.
Keeping Gilmore in the present is a favor to the team’s future.
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October 31, 2020 at 05:00PM
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Patriots point-counterpoint: Should Bill Belichick trade Stephon Gilmore? - Boston Herald
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