The Rams are seemingly connected to every big name, and it sounds like they’ve kicked the tires on a former Defensive Player of the Year. According to Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic, the Rams “have been in contact” with cornerback Stephon Gilmore.
Of course, while the Rams may have interest in a player of Gilmore’s caliber, it’s uncertain if they’ll be able to afford the defensive back. As Rodrigue notes, the organization “couldn’t pay anywhere near” what the cornerback was expecting heading into the offseason. Still, it wouldn’t be the first time a player has taken a significant pay cut in pursuit of a ring, and if Gilmore’s market isn’t what he anticipated, it’d make some sense if he settled for a one-year, prove-it deal with a contender.
In Los Angeles, Gilmore would be a natural fit opposite Jalen Ramsey. Plus, as Rodrigue writes, Gilmore’s presence on the outside would allow Ramsey to also serve in the “star” position. In that situation, Gilmore and someone like Robert Rochell or David Long Jr. would occupy the outside spots.
Gilmore, 31, being patient is unsurprising here, given his quest to see a pay raise during the second half of his Patriots tenure. Gilmore voiced frustration about his Pats contract — a five-year, $65MM deal that became wildly team-friendly as the market moved — in 2020 and 2021, leading to a pay bump for the ’20 season and a trade to the Panthers the following year. Leading up to free agency, Carolina had not closed the door on a Gilmore re-signing. He’s since received interest from the Raiders and Chiefs, but a deal hasn’t materialized.
The veteran was limited to only nine games this past season, but he still managed to earn his fourth-straight Pro Bowl nod after finishing with a pair of interceptions.
Sheesh Gilmore plus Ramsey Donald Wagner and so on
That’s the power of being in LA and having some success. People want to live in LA, they want to win rings and they want to play with their friends.
And the beauty of the NFL is even with all that spending and talent the Rams could drop to 8 wins next year. Not saying it will happen but there’s so much parity and unpredictability it’s possible this Rams team doesn’t sniff the superbowl again.
Put the pipe down. Even with goff they made playoffs several years now, they have some of the best depth in league and also draft well throughout the draft. Cardinals lost pretty everyone and so did Seahawks. You can mark it down rams will at least be in playoffs.
So injures and bad luck can’t happen? Sounds like a homer.
Don’t be naive…..first of all, not everyone wants to live in LA.
Secondly, and mostly, its always about the money…..rings and “playing with their friends”……what is this kindergarten class?
The players of this generation won’t accept one dime less than they think either they’re worth, or can leverage from a team so thinking that he’s going to take a pay cut and play for far less than he is asking is just plain silly!
Because of course they are.