Report: Patriots Sign Cornerback Stephon Gilmore To Five-Year Deal
BOSTON (CBS) -- With the Patriots set to likely lose Logan Ryan to free agency, the team is apparently set to make a replacement.
According to Adam Schefter, the Patriots are signing free agent cornerback Stephon Gilmore.
Schefter said that the deal is for five years.
The Patriots will reportedly be giving Gilmore more than $14 million.
UPDATE: Shortly after the start of NFL free agency, Schefter tweeted that the Patriots are signing Gilmore for five years and $65 million, including $40 million guaranteed. ESPN's Mike Reiss said that the $40 million also includes bonuses.
Gilmore, 26, spent his first five NFL seasons with the Buffalo Bills. He made five interceptions last year, which had him tied for fifth-most in the league. In his career, he's made 14 interceptions.
Gilmore ranked 61st among NFL cornerbacks according to Pro Football Focus' rankings. By comparison, Logan Ryan ranked 16th and Malcolm Butler ranked seventh in the NFL in PFF's grades among cornerbacks. However, Gilmore's second half of the 2016 was markedly better than the first half, which came after an offseason of contract unrest between him and the Bills.
Butler is a restricted free agent, while Ryan is an unrestricted free agent and is expected to depart Foxboro this offseason.
Prior to the Patriots-Bills meeting in November of 2015, Rob Gronkowski offered some praise to Gilmore.
"He's an excellent player," Gronkowski said. "He means a lot to their defense."
Gilmore did pick up an interception against Tom Brady in that game.
Gilmore made $11 million last season. It was the final year of his rookie contract, which paid him significantly less money in the first four years of his deal.
