A second homecoming for Rock Hill, S.C. native Stephon Gilmore was simply not to be.
The 33-year-old free-agent cornerback is a free-agent cornerback no longer, as he has reportedly decided to sign with the Minnesota Vikings. Gilmore’s newest pact, per ESPN senior NFL insider Adam Schefter, is a one-year agreement worth up to $10 million—including $7 million in guarantees.
And here’s the extra interesting part . . . the Carolina Panthers may have actually still been in on their old friend.
Minutes later on Sunday morning, Schefter’s colleague Jeremy Fowler would then report that the Panthers—who are expecting to be without projected starting corner Dane Jackson for a handful of weeks—made an offer to the five-time Pro Bowl defender.
The #Panthers also made an offer to Gilmore but Vikings came over the top strong here.
Gilmore reunites with Brian Flores. https://t.co/TLTQTEFFIk
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) August 18, 2024
Gilmore, who played nine games for the Panthers in 2021, had been linked back to Carolina quite a few times this offseason. Not only did former University of South Carolina teammate Jadeveon Clowney hint at a recruitment attempt of his fellow Gamecock, but president of football operations and general manager Dan Morgan had also spoken on the possibility of signing Gilmore this offseason.
He was last asked about Gilmore in late July.
“I think with all free agents, they’re on the street,” Morgan replied. “We contact all the free agents out on the street, kinda get their status, see where they’re at from a money perspective, just kinda see where they’re at. Are they interested in our organization? Are they interested in playing for us here?
“So we keep in contact with everybody. We’re gonna try to sign guys that fit what we do. And if they’re a fit out there and they’re a free agent on the street, then we’re gonna entertain all those guys.”
Well, he’s not on the street anymore.
