The New York Giants did not do much to upgrade their starting cornerback position opposite Deonte Banks this offseason. Banks, last year’s first-round pick, will be the lead cover man in Big Blue’s secondary as he enters a crucial second season in the NFL.
But opposite of Banks, the Giants do not have a firmly established starter. Cor’Dale Flott is expected to take over the job, however, his lack of experience playing on the boundary could become a cause for concern.
If the Giants still want to upgrade at cornerback, they could look to the free agency market to bring in a last-minute addition. One former All-Pro stands out as an intriguing target to consider.
Could the Giants sign Stephon Gilmore to start at CB this season?
Former All-Pro cornerback Stephon Gilmore is still surprisingly a free agent despite being among the best cover corners on the market this offseason. The 33-year-old just played out a one-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys this past season but showed no signs of slowing down despite his advanced age. In 2023, Gilmore started all 17 games for the Big D, totaling 68 combined tackles, 13 pass defenses, and two interceptions with a 74.4 overall Pro Football Focus grade.
Gilmore has been among the league’s best defensive backs for a decade now. He was named a first-team All-Pro in back-to-back seasons from 2018 to 2019 amidst a string of four-straight Pro Bowl appearances from 2018 to 2021. He has been to five total Pro Bowls in his 12-year NFL career.
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Because he is still on the market this late in the offseason, Gilmore’s asking price has surely decreased. No longer the elite shadowing cornerback that he once was, Gilmore is unlikely to fetch a huge deal and should be an affordable target for the Giants if they wish to add another corner.
Adding Gilmore to the lineup would give the Giants a reliable veteran in an otherwise young and inexperienced defensive backfield. Gilmore would plug-and-play opposite Banks and give Big Blue a reliable cornerback tandem to help compete against an NFC East that is chock-full of wide receiver talent.
