Carolina Panthers exploring reunion with former cornerback Stephon Gilmore

The Carolina Panthers are reportedly exploring a potential reunion with their former cornerback Stephon Gilmore amid free agency. According to Carolina reporter Joseph Person, the Panthers have reached out to the Cowboys free agent to see if he has interest in returning.

Though he’s getting up there in age, Gilmore is considered one of the best available free agents this year. He played one season with the Panthers in 2021, racking up 16 tackles and two interceptions in eight games played. He began the 2021 season on the PUP list after tearing his pectoral muscle at the end of 2020.

Gilmore told reporters last month that he’d ideally like to stay in Dallas. Despite a shakeup of the defensive staff, he likes what the Cowboys have in place to make a Super Bowl run in 2024. He had a base salary of $7.96 million in 2023.

“I want to come back. We can’t talk until March,” Gilmore told 96.7 The Ticket, via Jon Machota of The Athletic. “But that’s the goal. Because I think we do have the pieces to get to where we want to go. And I want to be part of that.”

Gilmore enters free agency once again

The Cowboys acquired the 33-year-old from the Indianapolis Colts last offseason and his importance to the team sky-rocketed following Trevon Diggs‘ ACL tear. Gilmore suited up in every game for the first time since his AP Defensive Player of the Year-winning campaign in 2019 when he was a member of the New England Patriots. He tallied a career-high 68 tackles (54 solo), two interceptions, 13 passes defensed and one forced fumble. Gilmore earned a 74.4 overall grade, according to Pro Football Focus.

In his 12 seasons in the league, he’s played for five different teams – the Bills, Patriots, Panthers, Colts and Cowboys. He’s won one Super Bowl, earned five Pro Bowl nominations and two first-team All-Pro honors. Gilmore was a first-round draft pick for the Bills in 2012. They took him No. 10 overall out of South Carolina.

His last deal, which he signed with the Colts, was for two years, $20 million. The biggest deal of his career was a five-year contract, which paid him $65 million.

More on the 2024 NFL offseason, free agency

The NFL 2024 calendar year begins at 4 p.m. ET on March 13. At that time, contracts running through 2023 officially run out, making those players free agents. Prior to the beginning of free agency, teams will have a chance to designate one franchise or transition tag player, starting on Feb. 20 at 4 p.m. ET and ending on March 5. Beginning March 11 through March 13 teams can enter into a legal negotiation with players who are will become unrestricted free agents.

In addition to NFL free agency, the new year also marks the beginning of all trades being made official by the league office. April 19 marks the deadline to sign restricted free agents to offer sheets. On April 24, the deadline for teams to match restricted free agent offers sheets hits. Following the restricted free agent deadline follows the 2024 NFL Draft, which runs from April 25-27.