The Indianapolis Colts — already one of the most talented rosters in the NFL — have added another big name. Cornerback Stephon Gilmore, who earned NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2019, is reportedly heading to Indianapolis.
ESPN’s Josina Anderson reported the news while Adam Schefter reported the terms.
Stephon Gilmore just text me he is signing with the #Colts.
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) April 15, 2022
Comp update: Colts are giving CB Stephon Gilmore a two-year, 23 million deal including $14 million guaranteed, per source. https://t.co/9Ot1oD0lxt
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 15, 2022
Seeing a good player like Gilmore go to an already strong team had people in the NFL world — especially Colts fans — buzzing.
Man, the #Colts are going to be a force this season. Already one of the deepest rosters in the NFL. They made big free agent adds at the 3 most important positions:
Pass rusher: Yannick Ngakoue ✅
Quarterback: Matt Ryan ✅
Cornerback: Stephon Gilmore ✅ https://t.co/g4jQjIWy3m— Michael Stets (@Michael_Stets) April 15, 2022
Great pick up for @Colts! Great player and even better locker room guy in @BumpNrunGilm0re https://t.co/AVBDN2L2Ty
— Charles “Buck” Arbuckle (@CharlesArbuckle) April 15, 2022
Interesting. Pretty good rock ya sin replacement in my opinion haha https://t.co/tOddvRCtEq
— Big Game Bengal (@BengalYouTube) April 15, 2022
Let’s go!!! https://t.co/zLql0AgPqy pic.twitter.com/YDHcR3L38Y
— Darius Butler (@DariusJButler) April 15, 2022
This is HUGE. All-Pro + Pro-bowler at every defensive group.
Sign Jarvis Landry, take a LT in the second and let’s make a run at this. #Colts https://t.co/DonB7kywgO
— Nathan Brennan (@NathanKCTV5) April 15, 2022
Chris Ballard smartly waits for market to cool off a bit… and pounces. Great addition for Indy. @BumpNrunGilm0re is a pro. https://t.co/tv0dyCRhMv
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) April 15, 2022
Continues a Colts trend this offseason that mirrors what the Patriots and Ravens have done in the past—signing third-contract veterans. Logic is there's more track record to go on and an added leadership/intangible element.
Think this move works to extend Gilmore's career too. https://t.co/E5qHaF7Pmd
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) April 15, 2022
Gilmore’s best season was 2019. He was not only the league’s Defensive Player of the Year but he led the NFL with six interceptions and was named First-team All-Pro for the second consecutive year. The two years since then have not been quite as heralded. But Gilmore hauled in one interception in 2020 and two in 2021 and earned a trip to the Pro Bowl in both seasons. This was despite missing a lot of time. He played in only 11 games in 2020 and eight games in 2021.
Gilmore will be 32 in September. So, it’s not likely that he’ll return to 2019 form in Indianapolis. Fortunately for the Colts, they shouldn’t need that.
While inconsistent, Indianapolis was a strong team in 2021. The Colts entered the final week of the regular season needing only a win over the Jacksonville Jaguars to make the playoffs. That, of course, did not happen and it led to Indianapolis making numerous changes to the roster. Most notable among them was bringing in Matt Ryan to replace the struggling Carson Wentz at quarterback.
Even if Gilmore isn’t the player that he was in 2019 anymore, if he can provide even a small upgrade to the Colts at cornerback, it should be more than enough to put them into the postseason.
[Josina Anderson, Adam Schefter]
