According to report, the Indianapolis Colts are handing cornerback Stephon Gilmore a two-year, $23 million contract with $14 million guaranteed.
After signing safety Rodney McLeod on Thursday, Gilmore becomes the Colts’ second experienced addition to the secondary this week.
After trading starter Rock Ya-Sin to the Las Vegas Raiders for pass-rusher Yannick Ngakoue and not re-signing starter Xavier Rhodes, the Colts were in need of a cornerback.
Following the retirement of defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, who is now the head coach of the Chicago Bears, the Colts revamped their defence and hired Gus Bradley as his replacement.
On the line, Indianapolis now has five-time Pro Bowler Gilmore, Ngakoue, and DeForest Buckner, as well as linebacker Darius Leonard and one of the greatest slot corners in the game in Kenny Moore. All five of those players have made at least one Pro Bowl appearance during their careers.
Gilmore spent the 2021 season with the Carolina Panthers, who acquired him in October by trading a 2023 third-round pick to the New England Patriots. The Panthers signed the 2019 NFL Defensive Player of the Year in the hopes of replacing first-round selection Jaycee Horn, who tore his ACL against the Houston Texans in Week 3.
When Gilmore came in Carolina, he was on the physically unable to perform list, still recovering from offseason surgery on a damaged quad and not eligible to return until Week 6. He was activated in Week 8 and started three of the final eight games. In his Carolina debut against Atlanta, he had an interception to preserve a 19-13 victory, and he backed that up with another in his home debut against New England. He was named to the Pro Bowl as an alternate after the season.
He expressed his displeasure with the way New England treated his quad injury, which he sustained in Week 15 of the 2020 season.
Gilmore, who grew up in Rock Hill, South Carolina, had expressed interest in returning to Carolina before a late-season game against Buffalo. The Panthers admired the senior guidance he gave to their youthful secondary. Donte Jackson, a 2018 second-round pick who re-signed with the Panthers on a three-year deal last month, added to the mix.
Gilmore, the Bills’ 10th overall choice in the 2012 draught, has 27 interceptions and 116 pass breakups in 10 seasons.