The Patriots told Stephon Gilmore the team will, after final contract talks broken down, release him at the 4 p.m. deadline. But it is believed the Patriots are ultimately trying to trade Gilmore.
Two league sources who were in on the bidding said it's likely the Patriots will find a trade partner, and the Packers are the heavy favorites.
UPDATE: Gilmore traded to Carolina for a sixth-round pick in 2023, according to NFL Network.
The #Panthers traded for Stephon Gilmore, sending a 2023 sixth-round pick to New England.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 6, 2021
By getting the word out, the Patriots kicked off the market and can control where he lands. As a vested veteran, Gilmore would have been free to sign with anyone. Can't see Bill Belichick, after dealing with Gilmore on his contract for two-plus years, letting the cornerback walk to the Bills and other AFC playoff contenders, or Tom Brady and the Bucs.
That being said, Gilmore and his agent, Jason Chayut, are very shrewd and they want a new contract, or at least a sizable bump in pay — it's why the Patriots are in this mess.
So a countermove by them, if they don't like the destination or terms, would not be a surprise.
Gilmore released a statement via social media:
Belichick releases a statement ... 15 minutes before he has his press conference.
Statement from Coach Bill Belichick on Stephon Gilmore. pic.twitter.com/X7CR54NCwf
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) October 6, 2021
BSJ ANALYSIS
And some people thought I was out of bounds suggesting that one possible move for Gilmore, if he didn't like playing for $7 million this season — even for half a season, was to stub a toe after being placed on the active roster, getting his money and service time, and being a free agent in the offseason.
These types of things happen in the NFL, or are at least threatened.
There's no way in hell the Patriots are in his position if Belichick had any faith that Gilmore would play the balance of this season at his current number. The corner was not going to, the Patriots didn't want to do that because they're not sure how healthy he is or will be, and so this was the outcome.
Obviously, it's a disaster — unless they get a haul in a trade here in the next couple of hours — that the Patriots did not trade Gilmore last year at the trade deadline during a lost season when he was still healthy. Keeping him and then the injury set the stage for this.
The Patriots had leverage because Gilmore had to play, or at least get on the roster at some point. Gilmore could counter by possibly not staying healthy.
And that gives you a stalemate.
The Patriots are in a bad way at cornerback. With Gilmore gone, now JC Jackson has all the leverage. He's a free agent after this season.
Jackson and his agent, who have rebuffed extensions to this point, now can insist that negotiations on a new contract start at the projected tag number: $17,568,000 per year. If Patriots balk, then Jackson plays for the tag in 2022. Another tag in '23 would be $21,081,600.
Patriots have no young cornerbacks in the pipeline. It's part of the reason why they had to sign Jalen Mills in the offseason.
Will have more to say about this later, but it just shows you the Patriots are not in control of this situation. Belichick will be speaking to the media at 12:15 p.m. If the Patriots were in control, no word would have leaked, Gilmore would have been traded or released this afternoon, and Belichick wouldn't have had to comment until Friday.
