Stephon Gilmore - Pro Football Rumors

AFC East Rumors: Dolphins, Jones, Tunsil, Bills

May 3rd, 2016 at 6:42pm CST by Zachary Links

As the Dolphins welcome their newest draft class this week, they are also saying goodbye to a recent third-round pick. Damontre Moore, who was taken with the No. 81 overall pick in 2013 by the Giants, was waived by Miami on Tuesday. While Moore has 45 NFL games to his credit, he’s perhaps best known by fans for his fight with former teammate Cullen Jenkins over a pair of free Beats by Dre headphones. That skirmish ultimately brought Moore to Miami where he racked up four tackles and one sack in three games.

Here’s more from the AFC East:

The Dolphins have kept in close contact with defensive end Jason Jones and a potential deal remains on the radar, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald tweets. Jones met with Miami twice this offseason – once in early March and once in mid-April. The former second-rounder spent the past three seasons with Detroit, where he started each of his 34 games. In 2014 and 2015, Jones totaled 53 tackles, 9.5 sacks, four passes defended, and three forced fumbles through his two healthy seasons. In 2013, the soon-to-be 30-year-old was hampered with injuries.
It was previously reported that Dolphins first-round pick Laremy Tunsil would avoid instant enrollment in the league’s substance abuse program, but nothing has been determined yet one way or another, as Tom Pelissero of USA Today writes. “Any incoming player with behavior or conduct involving a substance of abuse will be evaluated by the program’s advisors. Those clinical professionals – not the club, league or union – will determine whether based on that evaluation the player should be entered into the program. Neither the club nor the league has a role in that process, and are not notified of their decision,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy wrote in an email. Players in “Stage 1” of the program are subject to a treatment plan as well as drug tests which can vary in frequency depending on each case. Tunsil maintains that the infamous video of him from draft night was filmed more than two years ago. If that is proven to be true, then the offensive lineman will likely avoid increased monitoring for recreational drugs.
Now that the draft is out of the way, Bills GM Doug Whaley says that he’ll shift his focus to getting extensions done with the team’s key players in contract years. “Negotiations took a hiatus for draft weekend,” he told WGR 550 (audio link; transcript via BuffaloBills.com). “We’ll regroup this week and set a game plan through to the minicamp. I’ll sit down with Jim Overdorf and reach out and see if we can just keep the lines of communication open.” Earlier tonight, of course, Whaley reached agreement on a massive new deal with left tackle Cordy Glenn. Tyrod Taylor and Stephon Gilmore are also slated to hit the open market after the 2016 season and Whaley says he’s “supremely confident” that he can fit all three players on extensions under their salary cap heading into 2017.

East Notes: Eagles, Bills, Glenn, Gilmore, Fins

April 20th, 2016 at 8:58am CST by Luke Adams

In the wake of Alex Marvez’s report about what the parameters of an Eagles trade for the No. 2 overall pick would look like, Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports explains why Philadelphia may be willing to part with several picks to move up and land a quarterback.

While the Eagles haven’t made any decisions yet, the team doesn’t want to miss out on an opportunity to secure a franchise QB. Even with Sam Bradford and Chase Daniel under contract, Philadelphia is in position to make a move for Carson Wentz or Jared Goff, since Bradford could be cut after one year with limited financial repercussions, and Daniel is essentially earning elite-backup money.

As we wait to see just how serious Howie Roseman and his front office are about trading up, let’s round up a few more notes from out of the NFL’s East divisions…

The Bills have been mentioned once or twice as possible candidates to trade up to No. 2 in the draft, and general manager Doug Whaley didn’t rule out the possibility today, telling WGR 550AM that Buffalo is “open to do anything” (Twitter link via Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News). However, the Bills have the 19th overall pick, which makes a move into the top five a long shot. And after sacrificing a 2015 first-rounder to trade up in 2014, it seems improbable that Whaley would make the same sort of deal again this year.
In his conversation with WGR 550AM, Whaley also said it’s possible that the Bills can get long-term deals done with left tckle Cordy Glenn, cornerback Stephon Gilmore, and quarterback Tyrod Taylor. In fact, the Bills GM suggested he’s “more optimistic than pessimistic” about locking up Glenn and Gilmore (Twitter links via Carucci).
The Dolphins will take a running back in this year’s draft, prompting Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald to explore the team’s options, beginning with Ohio State’s Ezekiel Elliott. Jackson also breaks down a bevy of second- and third-day possibilities for the club.

AFC Rumors: Browns, RGIII, Raiders, Jets, Bills

March 20th, 2016 at 10:48am CST by Luke Adams

After hosting him for a visit earlier this weekend, the Browns are now doing more extensive homework on Robert Griffin III, making calls to find out more about the free agent QB’s game and his character, reports Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. While it may just be a matter of a team doing its due diligence, the Browns’ efforts could also signal that Cleveland has a level of genuine interest in Griffin. By comparison, the Jets – who brought RGIII in for a meet-and-greet but remain focused on re-signing Ryan Fitzpatrick – don’t appear to have done the same amount of research into the former No. 2 overall pick.

Here’s more from around the AFC:

Despite having some interest in him, it appears unlikely that the Raiders will make an offer to Cardinals RFA safety Tony Jefferson, tweets Eddie Borsilli of SiriusXM NFL Radio. A source tells Borsilli that Oakland is more likely to focus on adding safety help in the draft.
The Jets have taken a methodical approach to free agency so far in 2016, but they have the resources to be major players a year from now, writes Rich Cimini of ESPN.com. As Cimini observes, the Jets don’t have many non-rookie contracts on their books that feature guaranteed money in 2017, so the team will have the flexibility to make major moves if opportunities arise.
The Bills and cornerback Stephon Gilmore have yet to make headway on a long-term contract extension, and it doesn’t appear that the team is in a rush to get something done, says Tyler Dunne of the Buffalo News. Although the Bills would like to lock up their top cornerback, it sounds like an issue the club may address sometime after the draft, rather than in the immediate future.

AFC East Rumors: Bills, Dolphins, Jets

February 27th, 2016 at 5:56pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Three of the AFC East’s four teams are in the news. Here’s the latest:

As free agency approaches, the Bills are working to retain their two best offensive linemen – left tackle Cordy Glenn and left guard Richie Incognito – writes CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora. We learned this afternoon that the Bills intend to place the franchise tag on Glenn if he hasn’t agreed to a long-term deal by the March 1 deadline. Contrary to a report from earlier this week, the Bills aren’t currently looking to extend contract-year quarterback Tyrod Taylor, per La Canfora, who adds that they’re instead focusing on locking up cornerback Stephon Gilmore. Moreover, they’ll release defensive end Mario Williams and running back Anthony Dixon, and could restructure the contracts of safety Corey Graham, corner Leodis McKelvin, and possibly defensive lineman Kyle Williams. With some of the cap space those moves would create, La Canfora expects the Bills to pursue free agent-to-be Bilal Powell. The 27-year-old running back played under Bills head coach Rex Ryan as a member of the Jets from 2011-14. Powell averaged a career-high 4.5 yards per carry on 70 attempts last season and added a personal-best 47 receptions.
The Dolphins want to rework the contract of defensive end Cameron Wake, according to La Canfora. The problem, he notes, is that Wake would likely match or exceed the $8.4MM he’s scheduled to make as a Dolphin next season if they release him and he reaches the open market. Thus, the 34-year-old lacks incentive to take a pay cut. Not surprisingly, then, talks between the Dolphins and Wake’s agent made no progress at the combine.
With two ex-Jets bigwigs in Buffalo (Ryan) and Miami (executive vice president of football operations Mike Tannenbaum), representatives of pending Jets free agents said at the combine that the Bills and Dolphins could be landing spots for their clients, according to Brian Costello of the New York Post. That seems to corroborate La Canfora’s report that the Bills will try to reel in Powell in free agency. Further, the Bills and Dolphins could go after Jets run-stuffing defensive tackle Damon Harrison if he hits the market, per Costello, though he notes that the teams’ lack of cap space might serve as roadblocks. Even so, Harrison could use those clubs as leverage to scare the Jets into meeting his demands.

Bills Prioritizing Stephon Gilmore Extension

February 26th, 2016 at 4:12pm CST by Luke Adams

The Bills will explore the possibility of extending cornerback Stephon Gilmore‘s contract this offseason, per general manager Doug Whaley. Asked by Sal Capaccio of WGR 550 SportsRadio if a new deal for Gilmore would be a priority, Whaley replied, “Absolutely.”

“That’s why (cap specialist Jim Overdorf) and his staff will be meeting with his representatives,” Whaley said of Gilmore. “Not only will they be meeting with the unrestricted and restricted (free agents), but other guys on the team that we might want to extend.”

Gilmore, the 10th overall pick in the 2012 draft, had another strong season in 2015, recording 36 tackles, three interceptions, and 18 passes defended. Despite only playing 12 games, the 25-year-old ranked as a top-10 cornerback, according to Pro Football Focus’ grades (subscription required).

Extending Gilmore’s contract beyond 2016 would require a significant investment from the Bills, but there’s a good chance an agreement would also reduce Gilmore’s cap charge for 2016, creating some much-needed cap space. The cornerback has a cap number of $11.082MM, the amount of the fifth-year option on his rookie contract. By giving Gilmore a signing bonus up front and bringing down his base salary, the Bills could shave a few million dollars from their cap.

The Bills have already create a chunk of cap room by restructuring tight end Charles Clay‘s contract, reducing his 2016 cap hit by $7.5MM. The team could also create significant savings by cutting defensive end Mario Williams, who is currently on the books for $19.9MM in 2016 — releasing him would open up nearly $13MM in cap space.

As such, it’s possible that the Bills won’t be in any rush to extend Gilmore, since there are other ways to create cap flexibility for the team’s offseason spending. But with Cordy Glenn and Richie Incognito less than two weeks away from reaching the open market, Buffalo will want to do all it can to avoid letting those free agent offensive linemen get away. The team has also explored a possible extension for quarterback Tyrod Taylor, so every bit of cap space will help.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

East Notes: Murray, Morris, Bills, Dolphins

February 4th, 2016 at 3:26pm CST by Luke Adams

Ian Rapoport of NFL.com wrote earlier today that the Eagles and DeMarco Murray are headed toward a “stare-down” this offseason, but even though that may be the case, the running back likely isn’t going anywhere, says Jimmy Kempski of PhillyVoice.com. Rapoport’s report suggested that the Eagles hanging onto Murray is the most likely outcome, and Kempski goes into a little more detail explaining why that’s the case, despite the fact that it might not be the preferred outcome for both sides.

If Murray is released or traded at some point this year, it sounds like we can count Dez Bryant among those who would like to see the ex-Cowboy return to Dallas. “Come on home D.Moe,” Bryant wrote this afternoon in a tweet directed to Murray, Jason Witten, and Tony Romo.

Washington general manager Bruce Allen appears prepared to let Alfred Morris depart as a free agent this winter, as Liz Clarke of the Washington Post writes. “Free agency is going to be a great test for him,” Allen said of Morris, during an appearance on ESPN 980. “If he gets a great contract, we’re going to applaud him. If not, we’ll see what happens with us.”
The Bills don’t have a ton of cap flexibility this offseason, and are expected to simply focus on re-signing their own free agents rather than bringing in outside veterans. If the team needs to free up a little space though, it could potentially do so by extending the contract of cornerback Stephon Gilmore, lowering his $11.082MM cap number and ensuring that a talented player at a premium position remains in the fold. Tyler Dunne of The Buffalo News explores the possibility – and the importance – of a Gilmore extension.
Bills offensive coordinator Greg Roman didn’t draw any head coaching interest this offseason, but veteran tight end Vernon Davis, who played under Roman in San Francisco, believes his former OC will make a “great head coach one day,” as Dunne writes in a separate Buffalo News piece.
With 2015 first-rounder DeVante Parker waiting in the wings to take Rishard Matthews‘ spot in the Dolphins‘ lineup, James Walker of ESPN.com believes it’s unlikely that the free agent receiver will re-sign with Miami, putting the odds at just 20%.

Bills Place CB Stephon Gilmore On IR

December 16th, 2015 at 10:59am CST by Luke Adams

Stephon Gilmore‘s 2015 season has come to an early end, with the Bills announcing today that the team has placed the veteran cornerback on injured reserve due to a shoulder issue (Twitter links via Mike Rodak of ESPN.com). To replace Gilmore on the 53-man roster, the Bills have signed linebacker Max Valles off the Raiders’ practice squad.

Gilmore, 25, suffered a shoulder injury in the Bills’ Week 13 win over Houston, which sidelined him this past week. Shortly after Gilmore sustained the injury, head coach Rex Ryan told reporters that he didn’t expect it to be a season-ender. However, Ryan was less confident about that earlier this week, indicating on Monday that the former first-round pick may land on IR due to a dislocated shoulder (Twitter link via Joe Buscaglia of WKBW).

According to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (Twitter link), Gilmore is undergoing surgery on his troublesome shoulder in order to repair a labrum tear. Since he was a first-rounder in 2012, Gilmore still has one more year remaining on his contract with the Bills, in the form of a fifth-year option, so he should return to the team next season.

Prior to the injury, Gilmore was having perhaps his best year as a pro, having established a new career high with 18 passes defended. The South Carolina product had also grabbed three interceptions, and ranks as a top-15 cornerback in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus’ grades.

Bills Notes: Ryan, Carpenter, A. Williams

December 7th, 2015 at 3:01pm CST by Luke Adams

While Rex Ryan has always been very unlikely to be a one-and-done coach in Buffalo, there was talk around the league last week that Bills ownership was “none too pleased” with the team’s recent play, says Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports. As such, the team’s Sunday win over Houston likely has Ryan breathing a little easier.

If the Bills miss the playoffs this year, I expect Ryan to get at least one more shot in 2016 at making the postseason. As Garafolo notes though, the team’s owners are in win-now mode, having OK’d big-money maneuvers such as the trade and extension for LeSean McCoy, as well as lucrative contracts for Charles Clay, Jerry Hughes, and Marcell Dareus, among others.

Here’s more out of Buffalo:

Kicker Dan Carpenter missed a field goal and an extra point during Sunday’s win over the Texans, and has now missed four of each for the season. However, his job isn’t in danger, according to Ryan, who declared that “we’re not getting rid of” Carpenter (link via Jay Skurski of The Buffalo News). “Moving that [extra point] back, there’s a lot of people who miss kicks,” Ryan said. “Look, we’ve got a veteran kicker. You guys know he can kick in the conditions, and not everybody can do that.”
Safety Aaron Williams, who is on injured reserve with the designation to return, has a 50/50 chance of returning to the field for the Bills this season, per Ryan (Twitter link via Skurski).
The injury sustained by cornerback Stephon Gilmore on Sunday isn’t expected to be a season-ender, according to Ryan (Twitter link via Skurski). There has yet to be an official diagnosis or recovery timeline announced for Gilmore.

Bills Notes: QBs, Injuries

August 29th, 2015 at 7:07pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Bills head coach Rex Ryan is closing in on a decision regarding the team’s three-way competition for the starting quarterback job. Ryan will make his choice for the No. 1 spot Sunday, but he won’t announce it yet, according to Joe Buscaglia of WKBW (Twitter link).

Tyrod Taylor, E.J. Manuel and Matt Cassel have been vying for the role throughout the spring and summer, and all three have fared well during the preseason. That was especially true Saturday, when the trio shredded Pittsburgh in a 43-19 victory. The three combined to complete 25 of 28 passes for 321 yards and two touchdowns. Taylor added a 20-yard TD run to his 12-of-13, 122-yard performance through the air. Saturday’s effort will likely be the last of the preseason for Taylor, Manuel and Cassel, as Ryan expects fourth-stringer Matt Simms to play all of Buffalo’s exhibition finale against Detroit, Rodak tweeted.

Here’s more on the Bills:

Third-year receiver Marquise Goodwin may have broken a few ribs Saturday, according to Ryan (via Twitter).
Ryan seems optimistic about No. 1 cornerback Stephon Gilmore, who departed Saturday with a shoulder injury. “Gilmore is gonna be fine, I hope. We need him,” Ryan said, per Buscgalia (Twitter link).
Safety Aaron Williams left the game with a leg injury before eventually returning. He was limping in the locker room afterward and “clearly not 100 percent,” Rodak reports (Twitter link).
Ryan said rookie linebacker Tony Steward hurt his MCL and will be out a few weeks, per Rodak (Twitter link).

Bills Exercise Stephon Gilmore’s Option

April 28th, 2015 at 11:25am CST by Luke Adams

Bills general manager Doug Whaley indicated at last month’s league meetings that his team would be exercising its fifth-year option on cornerback Stephon Gilmore. Now, the club has finalized that decision, picking up the 2016 option on Gilmore, according to Albert Breer of the NFL Network (via Twitter).

Gilmore, 24, led Bills cornerbacks with 873 defensive snaps last season, and had his best season yet, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required) — the site graded him as the NFL’s 26th-best cornerback.

Because Gilmore was a top-10 pick – 10th overall, to be specific – his option will be pricier than players drafted later in the 2012 first round. For example, the Bengals reportedly picked up Dre Kirkpatrick‘s option earlier today, and will pay him $7.507MM for the 2016 season. Gilmore, on the other hand, is set to earn a salary of $11.082MM for ’16, unless his deal is renegotiated or extended.

For the complete breakdown of 2016 option decisions around the NFL, be sure to check out our tracker.