5 best moments from the Carolina Panthers’ 2021 season
By Dean Jones
Carolina Panthers trade for Stephon Gilmore
Another moment during the 2021 season that sent jaws to the floor was the Carolina Panthers trading for Stephon Gilmore. The All-Pro cornerback was set to be released by the New England Patriots before his hometown team swooped in to prevent a free-agent frenzy when he hit the market.
This was seen as a real statement of intent from the Panthers. One that suggested their plans had moved from rebuilding to “win-now”.
Again, this didn’t exactly come to fruition.
Although not much blame could be placed on Gilmore’s shoulders.
The South Carolina product was a tremendous asset on the field and provided younger members of the roster with exceptional guidance that will benefit their development considerably. One only has to examine Jaycee Horn’s comments this week to see how influential Gilmore’s been in a short space of time.
Whether Gilmore’s stay in Carolina was short-lived remains to be seen. The veteran is out of contract this offseason and although the Panthers want to keep him around, money could be an issue and there is also a chance he wants to join a team with a better chance of contending at this stage of his career.
Hopefully, Gilmore can stay. And there’s just no telling how much he could assist with a full offseason.