Former Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore joined his fourth group since 2020 this offseason, when the Indianapolis Colts traded him to the Dallas Cowboys. Right earlier than free company started, the Colts dealt the cornerback for a 2023 fifth-round decide.
Colts basic supervisor Chris Ballard defended the choice and mentioned it was your best option for each events. Ballard famous that the 32-year-old is nearing the top of his profession and the Colts felt it was extra useful for them to get a draft decide.
“I feel it was good for each of us,” Ballard mentioned (by way of NFL.com). “He’s simply at a degree in his profession that, he is on the finish of his profession. I believed he was a good match for the protection. But an opportunity to get a decide for him within the final 12 months of his deal. Shed a bit little bit of the contract cash off. I believed was good for each of us, have the ability to ship him to Dallas, which is an efficient spot and a superb match defensively for him. That sort of went into it.”
Gilmore joins a Cowboys group coming off its first street playoff win since 1992, however which fell quick within the divisional spherical. The Cowboys are nonetheless in want of that further push to dwell as much as their preseason expectations, one thing they’ve did not do lately. Gilmore was ranked because the ninth finest CB of 2022 by Pro Football Focus with an 81.1 protection grade, and added a team-leading 66 tackles, in addition to two interceptions and 11 passes defended.
To fill the position left by the getting old, however nonetheless gifted, five-time Pro Bowler, Ballard mentioned he’s some guys already within the league who the group has curiosity in.
“I feel it is at all times a place that, you understand you wish to have as many canopy guys as you may,” Ballard mentioned. “But yeah, that is a place we received an eye fixed on. We assume there’s nonetheless some free brokers on the market, too, that might assist us if want be.”
The Colts are in a transparent rebuild and coming off a curler coaster of a season that included the group firing head coach Frank Reich and hiring former participant Jeff Saturday, who had no skilled or faculty teaching expertise, as their interim head coach. Indianapolis completed 4-12-1 and third within the AFC South.
Coming off a chaotic 12 months with struggles, the group must bulk up on picks because it makes an attempt to show issues round. The cash it saved letting Gilmore go will even assist the group out sooner or later.
The Colts have a brand new head coach in Shane Steichen and have the No. 4 general decide within the upcoming draft, giving them the possibility to draft a possible franchise quarterback.
