Stephon Gilmore is the best cornerback remaining on the free agent market, and he could see an uptick in interest following an injury to Ravens first-round pick Nate Wiggins. Wiggins made his NFL debut on Friday and showed plenty of promise, breaking up three passes while showing the ball skills that made him such a coveted prospect. However, the rookie suffered an injury while making a tackle early in the third quarter.
Wiggins injured his right arm/shoulder area, and head coach John Harbaugh did not give an update on the rookie after the game. As of this posting, we do not know the severity of the injury, but if it’s severe, it could lead to a Stephon Gilmore free agent signing. The only question is whether or not the Ravens will have enough money to outbid the presumed favorites in the Carolina Panthers.
Panthers, Ravens Could Fight Over Free Agent Stephon Gilmore After Nate Wiggins Injury
Harbaugh has always prioritized a strong secondary, and Baltimore entered the 2024 NFL Draft with a need to revitalize the secondary. In addition to Wiggins, the team also used a fourth-round pick on cornerback T.J. Tampa. On paper, these two paired with Marlon Humphrey and Brandon Stephens could easily form one of the best secondaries football. This room still has plenty of talent without Wiggins, but they’d need a free agent like Stephon Gilmore if they want to reach their ceiling.
Most teams could get by without an elite secondary, but the Ravens aren’t one of them. Baltimore has one of the most talented all-around teams in football, but they need all the help they can get to hoist the Lombardi Trophy. The AFC is loaded with talent, and a free agent like Stephon Gilmore could be the difference between a title and another disappointing playoff exit. Gilmore isn’t the same guy who won Defensive Player of the Year honors back in 2019, but he’s still a starting-caliber talent who should fill an immediate void in this secondary.
Panthers The Highest Bidder?
A few months back, all signs pointed towards the Panthers signing Stephon Gilmore as a free agent. That didn’t happen, as the two sides couldn’t make the money work, but one has to assume a mutual interest still exists between both parties. Carolina entered the 2024 NFL Draft with too many needs to possibly address at once, so they wisely focused on fixing the offense. Turning Bryce Young into a franchise quarterback is the top priority for the Panthers, and players like wide receiver Xavier Legette, running back Jonathon Brooks, and tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders will help accomplish that goal.
Unfortunately, this also meant the Panthers couldn’t address the secondary until the fifth round. Nobody should expect too much out of rookie Chau Smith-Wade, which means Carolina’s secondary will feature the oft-injured Jaycee Horn and not much else. Stephon Gilmore could help solidify this secondary, and the free agent should welcome the opportunity to play for his hometown team. Even with all the offensive improvements, the Panthers will still need to win games on defense if they want to improve on last year’s league-worst record.
Main Photo: Tim Heitman – USA Today Sports
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