5 high-profile Panthers free agents who might not be back in 2022
By Dean Jones
Stephon Gilmore – Carolina Panthers CB
When the Carolina Panthers traded a 2023 sixth-round pick to the New England Patriots for cornerback Stephon Gilmore, it was done with a potential playoff spot in mind. There was talk of winning now from general manager Scott Fitterer in the immediate aftermath of the move, which was a far cry from the rebuilding chatter when things were not necessarily going according to plan.
Gilmore took his time to recover from a torn quad. But his impression was immediate upon returning to fitness and he left little doubt there is still a lot of left in the former NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
Who could forget Gilmore’s masterclass covering rookie sensation Kyle Pitts during their clash at the Atlanta Falcons? But with the South Carolina product now out of contract, there is growing concern his return home was nothing more than a short-term arrangement.
Obviously, nothing has been confirmed as yet. But Gilmore’s comments to Josina Anderson of USA Today indicate that his future could lie elsewhere and if the veteran does hit the market, there will be a ton of interest from teams with a much better chance of lifting a Super Bowl next season.
Carolina does have some nice young cornerbacks who could go on to great things. However, none are of the standard that Gilmore provides when healthy and this experience could be a tremendous asset during a critical Year 3 of Matt Rhule’s tenure.