What Does Adding a Pro Bowler Cornerback Bring to the Saints Next Season?
We’re less than a week away from the start of the official season, New Orleans Saints fans! This has been a tumultuous offseason during which the media’s attention on the team was mainly focused on who would become the next starting quarterback. Each of the three preseason games provided us with a preview of what we may see on the seventh of September against the Arizona Cardinals. As of this recent Tuesday, the roster has been posted as to who earned the starting QB position and who made the cut for the upcoming months. However, there are still opportunities to sign decent players, such as cornerback Stephon Gilmore of the Minnesota Vikings.
Mr. Gilmore has had an extensive NFL career. Beginning all the way back in 2012, he was signed to the Buffalo Bills where he would remain for five seasons. As a right cornerback, he started in 66 of the 68 games he played, intercepted 14 passes, and acquired 252 yards of interceptions that were returned. He would supplement this with 198 solo tackles, 28 assists on tackles, and four tackles for loss. His performance on the Bills wouldn’t go unnoticed because it would result in his initial vote to the 2017 Pro Bowl. Following a brief amount of time as a free agent, Stephon was signed onto the New England Patriots where he would stay for four seasons. As a Patriot, he started in all of 56 games he played, intercepted 11 passes, and acquired 200 yards of interceptions that were returned. Gilmore would add 161 solo tackles, 24 assists on tackles, and three tackles for loss. His performance in New England would again be enough to earn him a spot in the Pro Bowl for three consecutive seasons and have the added honor of being named the 2019 Defensive Player of the Year. He would also earn his first Super Bowl ring as a result of their win over the Los Angeles Rams. In 2021, Stephon would start on a path in which he would be on a new team every season in a different cornerback role beginning with the Carolina Panthers due to a trade with the Patriots. Next in 2022, he would be signed to the Indianapolis Colts where he would perform better than he had in Carolina. His 2023 season would be spent in Dallas and then he was signed in 2024 by the Minnesota Vikings.
When you look at their defensive performance during the preseason games, particularly in the initial game against the Chargers, it’s obvious there’s room for improvement. The cornerback position itself can’t be overlooked. Their 2024 loss of veteran Marshon Lattimore and recently Paulson Adebo’s departure in the offseason as a free agent have shown to be detrimental to this current roster. Although young and experienced players are appearing necessary on offense to score points, the defense needs experience to prevent their opponent from scoring. When you bring onto your team a rarity within the league, such as Stephon, you’re also adding the experiences of 13 years and six teams. Even as a consultant to your defense, this player has incredible potential and should be signed right away by the Saints.
