The Patriots have found a trade partner for Stephon Gilmore.
Gilmore has been traded to the Panthers for a 2023 sixth-round pick, according to Carolina.
New England was going to release Gilmore at the end of the day, but now they get a late-round pick in 2023 for him.
He does need to wait a few more weeks to play since he's still on PUP. The first game he can play for the Panthers is Oct. 24 against the Giants. Gilmore will face his old team on Nov. 7 when the Patriots travel to Carolina.
"I am grateful to Stephon Gilmore for his significant contributions to our team," Bill Belichick said in a statement released Wednesday. "It was a privilege and pleasure to coach Steph. I appreciate him for the true professional and class act that he is and wish him all the best in the future. Following discussions over a long period of time, we mutually agreed to part ways today."
Gilmore marks the latest star player, and specifically another from the Patriots, to join a loaded NFC South. Last season it was Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, Antonio Brown and Leonard Fournette signing on with the Bucs, who went onto win the Super Bowl. Gilmore adds a star in the secondary for the Panthers, who are currently atop the division at 3-1, across former LSU star Donte Jackson.
The Patriots will now go with JC Jackson, Jalen Mills, Jonathan Jones, Joejuan Williams, Shaun Wade and Myles Bryant (practice squad) at cornerback the rest of the season.
