Could the New England Patriots be shopping the reigning Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore? This is a rumor that has actually surfaced as we creep closer to the trade deadline. If this is out in the universe, the Seattle Seahawks should jump on it.
Gilmore is one of the best, if not the best, cornerbacks in the league. He is coming off of a 2019 campaign where he led one of the best units in the league and earned the award given to the league’s best defender.
This season, New England has taken a step back defensively. The Patriots are allowing 360 yards per game this season. That is middle of the pack in the league, but not in the same stratosphere of what they did last season.
One team that has been worse is the Seahawks. Actually, the Seahawks have been worse than everyone. Seattle’s defense is dead last in the league, allowing 479.2 yards per game and 368.7 per game through the air. This is something we are not used to seeing from a defense in Seattle.
They already made a big splash trade for Jamal Adams, but he has dealt with injuries. They have a chance to make another with Gilmore.
The price will be hefty if a team wants to acquire Stephon Gilmore. But, the Seahawks view themselves as Super Bowl contenders this season. If that is the case, they will need to sure up the defense.
Here are three reasons the Seahawks should pursue a trade for Gilmore with the Patriots.
3. Take Pressure Off Pass Rush
This is not just a secondary issue. It begins there, but the Seahawks have not been able to generate any pass rush this season. Jadeveon Clowney left in free agency, which hurt the defensive front. The Seahawks made a trade for Carlos Dunlap to try and improve.
Seattle is middle of the pack in the league in terms of rushing yards allowed with 110.5 per game. They are currently 27th in the league with just nine sacks on the year. They have played six games.
The front seven and secondary work together. If the pass rush is not getting home, it is difficult to cover for a long time. On the other hand, if the secondary cannot cover anyone, there is no time for the front seven to put pressure.
Adding Gilmore would give the secondary a boost, which might allow the pass rush to get to the opposing quarterback. Offenses are having a field day against the Seahawks this season and that cannot be something they are happy about.
2. Give Them A Shutdown Corner
This is something that the Seahawks have been after since they lost Richard Sherman to a division rival. The days of the “L.O.B.” are long gone. The Seahawks made a trade for Quinton Dunbar with Washington in the offseason, but Gilmore would add depth and give them a true shutdown corner.
Dunbar and Shaquill Griffin are currently starting on the outside. They are clearly not getting the job done along with a banged up unit of safeties. Gilmore has 25 career interceptions with six coming last year. He returned two for touchdowns.
A shutdown corner is something they need with receivers like DeAndre Hopkins, Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp, and Deebo Samuel in the division.
At this point, the other three teams in the division know they can throw the ball on Seattle. That is going to be a problem moving forward if they just sit on their hands at the deadline.
1. Solidify Themselves As Super Bowl Contenders
The Seahawks are one of the best teams in the league this season. they are 6-1 and suffered their only loss against the Arizona Cardinals. Russell Wilson is playing at an MVP level and Pete Carroll is still one of the top coaches in football. If any team knows that it takes defense to win championships, it’s the Seahawks.
Seattle made a run to two straight Super Bowl’s on the back of their defense. They came away with one Super Bowl and would have won back-to-back if Carroll decided to run the football at the one-yard line.
That stretch gave us one of the best defenses of this generation. Players like Sherman, Malcolm Smith, Earl Thomas, and Kam Chancellor built a unit that was difficult. It is quite the opposite now, but Stephon Gilmore would go a long way in returning. Along with Adams getting healthy.
The Seahawks currently hold a lead in the NFC West, but it is slim. There are three teams with five wins and one with four. It is anyone’s division and if the Seahawks want to win, they will have to defend better.
