CHARLOTTE, N.C. — When Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer said he’d be “in on every deal” at his introductory press conference, he wasn’t joking.
The Panthers began to hear rumors Tuesday night that the Patriots were interested in parting ways with former All-Pro cornerback Stephon Gilmore, who was in the final year of his contract and was looking for a new deal.
The Panthers contacted the Patriots Wednesday morning, and by the afternoon a deal had been made.
In exchange for Gilmore, 31, the Panthers gave the New England Patriots a 2023 sixth-round pick.
Gilmore was set to come off the Physically Unable to Perform list after coming back from a quad injury he suffered last year.
However, because he was traded, Gilmore will stay on the PUP list and can’t practice until after Week 6 — ahead of the Panthers’ game at the New York Giants.
The Panthers expect Gilmore to be available by then.
The trade for Gilmore is the second trade for a cornerback in as many weeks. The Panthers traded for cornerback C.J. Henderson on Sept. 27. With rookie cornerback Jaycee Horn out, the Panthers are looking for ways to shore up their secondary. They saw Gilmore as a good fit and way to allow their younger players to grow into their roles at cornerback instead of thrusting them into a starting role right away.
If Gilmore plays well, the Panthers could extend his deal if the price is right.
But other players like Donte Jackson, DJ Moore and Brian Burns are of a higher priority.
Gilmore had been unhappy with his contract, which was up after this season, according to the Boston Globe, and the sides could not come to agreement on a restructured deal.
Carolina will take the remaining part of Gilmore’s contract this season. He had a salary-cap number of $16.2 million, according to overthecap.com. The Patriots have paid $7 million of it and are on the hook for his roster bonus, according to the terms of his contract, which was acquired by The Charlotte Observer.
The Panthers are on the hook for the remaining 13 weeks of his contract, which is $5.05 million. He also has a “per-game roster bonus,” for each week he’s active. He has the opportunity to earn $5.44 million in bonuses.
The Panthers, which had about $19.3 million in cap space before the trade, will have about $14.2 million remaining. The Panthers could make another move, but also want to carry money over to 2022 offseason.
Gilmore was named Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2019, and was a first-team All-Pro selection in 2018 and 2019.
He had 53 tackles, 20 pass deflections six interceptions for 129 yards and two defensive touchdowns in 2019. However, last season he struggled. He played in 11 games, had one interception, one forced fumble and three pass deflections.
Gilmore is a native of Rock Hill, S.C., and played college football at South Carolina before becoming the 10th overall draft pick in 2012.
He still has a home in Waxhaw, and lives three doors down from Fitterer.
