Dallas Cowboys might reunite with Stephon Gilmore but there are two crystal clear reasons why it won't happen that soon
Halfway through the Dallas Cowboys' pre-draft conference at The Star in Frisco, Texas, a familiar face walked by reporters. It was a player that could very well change the team's overall plans in this week's 2025 NFL Draft. Cornerback Stephon Gilmore. Obviously, Gilmore wasn't new to The Star. He started 15 games for the Cowboys in 2023 […]
Halfway through the Dallas Cowboys' pre-draft conference at The Star in Frisco, Texas, a familiar face walked by reporters. It was a player that could very well change the team's overall plans in this week's 2025 NFL Draft.
Cornerback Stephon Gilmore.
Obviously, Gilmore wasn't new to The Star. He started 15 games for the Cowboys in 2023 and played standout football after the front office traded for him in one of the most aggressive moves they've made in recent memory, if you can call giving up a Day 3 pick that.
In 2024, Gilmore was clearly missed by the defense as cornerback depth took a significant hit upon his departure, causing the Cowboys to start fifth-round rookie Caelen Carson upon DaRon Bland's injury and later in the year, a rotation of roster bubble players and practice squad-caliber corners.
Could a reunion be in the works? The front office didn't offer much insight into Gilmore's presence in the building.
"We’re always looking to make our roster better," Stephen Jones told reporters when they inevitably asked it. "In general, our player acquisition (process) is year round.”
According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Cowboys won't sign Gilmore Tuesday and chances are it won't happen in the coming days, either. That's for two very obvious reasons:
- Most importantly, starting on Monday after the NFL Draft, free agency signings do not count toward the league's compensatory pick formula, which rewards teams for losing free agents. Signed players can cancel out losses and keep a team from gaining the draft picks. The Cowboys front office has always valued comp picks more than the average NFL team and there's no way they allow Gilmore to cost them a fifth or even a sixth rounder next year.
- Obviously, the NFL Draft is this week and though it's unlikely they pick a cornerback at No. 12 overall, it's a possibility given players like Michigan's Will Johnson and Texas' Jahdae Barron. If they wind up picking corner in the first round, do they still wish to sign Gilmore? We'll see.
With all that being said, the Cowboys signing Gilmore would be smart business. The team needs to account for Trevon Diggs potentially starting the season on the injured list and the veteran is likely going to be inexpensive. Last year, Gilmore occupied under $5 million in the Minnesota Vikings' cap space.
If they want it to happen, it might take a few days for cap management issues but a reunion makes sense.
