Cowboys Trade for Stephon Gilmore: Smartest Move of NFL Offseason?

The Dallas Cowboys have made several good offseason moves, but the addition of All-Pro cornerback Stephon Gilmore might just be the shrewdest one of them all.

The Dallas Cowboys handled their free agency business just about as well as any of the other 31 NFL teams this offseason. They managed to retain the majority of the roster, losing only one true full-time starter (Dalton Schultz) and a host of fringe players.

The incomings included Brandin Cooks, Stephon Gilmore and then their draftees, headlined by defensive tackle Mazi Smith and Luke Schoonmaker. While much has been made of the Cooks signing and what he could do for Dak Prescott, and what Smith could do for coordinator Dan Quinn's defense, the addition of Stephon Gilmore could prove to be the best piece of business. ...

So much so that CBS Sports has put Dallas' acquisition of Gilmore from the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for a lowl fifth-round pick in the list of Top 10 offseason moves that will impact the 2023 season. Gilmore came in at No. 7.

"The Cowboys made a couple of savvy moves this offseason (trading for Brandin Cooks being one of the main deals)," CBS Sports writes. "However, the trade for Stephon Gilmore is one of the more underrated maneuvers of the offseason."

One of the problem areas for Quinn last season was finding a suitable partner for Trevon Diggs. After losing Anthony Brown to a season-ending Achilles injury, it was a revolving door of cornerbacks who tried their hand at filling in.

Mackensie Alexander, Trayvon Mullen, Kelvin Joseph, Nahshon Wright and DaRon Bland all tried their hand. Bland worked out as clearly being the best of the bunch as he led the team in interceptions with five - while showing himself to be a standout in the slot. But needing an outside corner, Dallas knew it needed to solidify that spot opposite Diggs.

What better way than with a Super Bowl winner and two-time All-Pro in Gilmore, who still has plenty left in the tank out there on "Gilly's Island''?

'GILLY'S ISLAND!' #Cowboys New CB Stephon Gilmore Biggest 'X-Factor' in Playoff Chase? https://t.co/Ur29iafQF8 via @DallasCowboysFN

— fishsports ✭ (@fishsports) July 6, 2023

​With the Cowboys having one of the better defensive units in the NFL prior to Gilmore's arrival, now adding the veteran to pair with Diggs and creating one of the best cornerback tandems in the league could the defense even better.

"The former Defensive Player of the Year joins a stacked Cowboys secondary that includes fellow corner Trevon Diggs and safeties Donovan Wilson, Malik Hooker, and Jayron Kearse," CBS Sports wrote. "This is a tremendous counter within the NFC East as the Eagles have a dynamic passing attack ... Beyond the division, having Gilmore -- who has a Super Bowl title on his résumé -- as a veteran leader could help Dallas push for a deep playoff run."

With so many eyeballs focused on Dak Prescott, coach Mike McCarthy and the offense this offseason, the addition of Gilmore has perhaps slipped through the cracks.

Quinn's unit is as opportunistic as they come. With Diggs, and now Gilmore patrolling the secondary, opposing quarterbacks better be accurate if throwing their way, otherwise the Cowboys defense could lead the NFL in takeaways for a third consecutive season.

As Gilmore himself said of being paired with Diggs against opposing QBs: “They got to throw it somewhere. One of us is going to be making plays.”

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