SF 49ers: 5 trades John Lynch should explore during 2021 offseason
By Peter Panacy
No. 4: SF 49ers replace Richard Sherman with Stephon Gilmore
San Francisco has a recent history of taking shots on veteran corners who no longer appear to be long-term fixtures with their original teams. In 2018, the SF 49ers inked free-agent corner Richard Sherman despite him coming off an injury, and that worked out well enough.
With Sherman not likely back in 2021, though, the Niners still have that sizable void to fill within the secondary. While it’s wise to explore younger, cheaper options in the NFL Draft, rookie corners often struggle in the transition from the collegiate ranks to the pros.
With San Francisco’s Super Bowl window open now, it wouldn’t hurt to grab a savvy veteran with a championship pedigree.
It wouldn’t be shocking to see the New England Patriots move four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Stephon Gilmore, the 2019 Defensive Player of the Year, this offseason. The Pats, coming off a 7-9 finish last year, are looking more and more like a rebuild is necessary, and Gilmore probably doesn’t figure into head coach Bill Belichick’s long-term plans anyway. Especially considering Gilmore is entering the final year of his contract.
A one-year rental could be risky, especially considering Gilmore is 30 years old and came nowhere close to the kind of production he enjoyed in 2019.
Still, he’s a vast upgrade for nearly any team’s secondary, and the Niners could easily absorb his $7.3 million cap hit with some minor roster jockeying elsewhere. Plus, San Francisco wouldn’t have to commit to him beyond this season if he’s truly entering the inevitable decline phase.