The Dallas Cowboys have stayed true to their conservative ways when it comes to acquiring talent in free agency. After months of barely making any moves, this is normally around the time the Cowboys tend to kick the tires on guys, usually on cheap, one-year type contracts.
It would behoove the Cowboys to take a look at positions like defensive tackle, where the depth is scarce, and at running back where there are bodies, just not a lot of juice after Ezekiel Elliott and Rico Dowdle. However, veteran cornerback Stephon Gilmore, who played for the Cowboys in 2023, is still floating around the free agent waters, and here’s three reasons why Dallas should give his phone a ring.
He’s still playing at a pretty high level
Gilmore came into Dallas after having a bounce back year with the Indianapolis Colts in 2022, in which he set a career high in tackles with 66 and logged two interceptions. He set a new high with 68 tackles in 2023 and snagged two interceptions, which was vital for the Cowboys after All-Pro cornerback Trevon Diggs tore his ACL before Week 3.
Gilmore turned back the clock to his Defensive Player of the Year days back in 2019 when the Cowboys played the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 14 last season. He forced a fumble on wide receiver A.J. Brown, and also made a critical tackle on DeVonta Smith on fourth down in the third quarter. It was easily his best game as a Cowboy and a reminder that he has something left in the tank.
STEPHON GILMORE FORCED FUMBLEpic.twitter.com/RL4jdU0Xz6
— Tom Downey (@WhatGoingDowney) December 11, 2023
Stephon Gilmore is having a GAME 🔒
pic.twitter.com/SDhlyzqWW8— PFF (@PFF) December 11, 2023
Dallas would have one of the best cornerback rooms in the NFL
The Cowboys will be getting Diggs back in 2024. However, an ACL tear is a tricky injury that must be handled delicately, and he could possibly start the season on the PUP list. If so, bringing back Gilmore would pair him with All-Pro DaRon Bland and Jourdan Lewis, giving the Cowboys an extremely formidable starting trio of corners. However, if Diggs is back by the time the season starts, now the Cowboys would have four players that have starting ability to put on the field with Gilmore back in the fold, and young talents like Caelen Carson and Eric Scott Jr. behind them, that’s a well-built room as a whole.
Gives hope that the Cowboys are serious about winning
Dallas refuses to take plunges in free agency, despite desperate cries from the Cowboys’ fan base and even media members. Dallas is known for keeping in-house free agents, though, and Gilmore is one that can keep the Cowboys’ defense among the better units in the NFL. So, if they aren’t going to spend, Dallas should at least retool with a quality veteran like Gilmore that can still perform at a high level and can provide excellent mentorship to the cornerback room.
