Cowboys Trade Target: Colts Stephon Gilmore to Help Trevon Diggs?

One media proposal has the Dallas Cowboys getting two-time All Pro cornerback Stephon Gilmore via trade with the Indianapolis Colts. How much?

The Dallas Cowboys might be in the market to add some veteran savvy to their defensive backfield in 2023. 

Who better to fit that description than a former Defensive Player of the Year?

In a scenario recently suggested by Inside The Star, Dallas would secure the services of two-time All Pro cornerback Stephon Gilmore via trade with the Indianapolis Colts. Despite having to surrender a reserve lineman, the price is (at least) intriguing to us in order to acquire one of this era's best cover corners.

The trade proposal reads as follows:

The Dallas Cowboys send OL Matt Farniok, a 5th-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, and a conditional 2024 pick to the Indianapolis Colts for Stephon Gilmore. 

Gilmore has been among the top players at his position for several years. The former South Carolina standout spent his first five seasons with the Buffalo Bills, earning Pro Bowl honors in 2016. However, Gilmore developed into an elite defensive back after signing a lucrative free-agent deal with the New England Patriots in 2017. 

During his four seasons with the Pats, he was named Defensive Player of the Year in 2019 after leading the league with six interceptions and 20 passes-defensed. He also extended his Pro Bowl selections to four, received two first-team All-Pro selections, and was a member of the team that won a Super Bowl title in Super Bowl LIII. 

Gilmore was traded to the Carolina Panthers in Oct. 2021, where he received a fifth Pro Bowl selection. He signed with Indianapolis prior to the start of the 2022 season. Though he took a bit of a statistical dip from his days in New England, Gilmore finished the season having compiled 66 total tackles, 11 passes-defensed and two interceptions. 

Logistically, Indianapolis may indeed be motivated to move the soon-to-be 33-year-old this offseason. In Inside The Star's scenario, the rebuilding Colts stand to gain approximately $9.9 million in cap space (with having to absorb only $2 million in dead money, per OverTheCap.com) an offensive lineman under contract until 2025, as well as additional draft capital. The Colts would maintain both an equal financial obligation and return on investment by releasing Gilmore. As such, receiving compensation via trade would be a much more palatable scenario for parting ways with him. 

For Gilmore, he would get the chance to play for a Super Bowl contending team, while playing alongside Dallas' top perimeter option, Trevon Diggs. 

In 2021, Diggs led all cornerbacks with 11 interceptions, en route to a first-team All-Pro selection. Though he took a statistical dip in 2022 (logging just three picks), the 23-year-old is still considered one of the top players at his position - and of course, wishes to be paid that way.

While stout corner Anthony Brown was to man the left side of the perimeter, he suffered a torn Achilles in Week 13 and was placed on season-ending injured reserve in December - and his contract is now expiring.

Rookie DaRon Bland performed well in his stead, earning five interceptions and seven passes-defensed.

In acquiring Gilmore, the Cowboys not only add a more-than-capable veteran, but also lessen the haste to groom a youngster to play a major role in their secondary for the upcoming season. All in all, a fine idea - if it's an affordable idea.

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Follow Mike D’Abate on Twitter @mdabateNFL

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