If you're a team coming off one of the most injury-plagued campaigns in recent NFL history, would you take to flyer on a player coming off an injury? New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore suffered a partially torn quad during Week 15 of the 2020 season and landed on injured reserve.
Plus, Gilmore is looking to get paid. He is in the final year of his deal and is set to earn a base salary of $7 million for the upcoming season. The four-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro wants a contract extension and didn't report to New England's mandatory minicamp.
#Patriots star CB Stephon Gilmore, who wants a new contract and is rehabbing from a partially torn quad, is not present at the team's mandatory minicamp today, source said.
*(Spelling fixed, no thanks to autocorrect)
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 14, 2021
Gilmore remains a popular name for discussion on social media when it comes to the San Francisco 49ers. We recently asked fans on Twitter which remaining move they want to see the team make before the season, and Gilmore's name came up a few times.
Could San Francisco use Gilmore? Absolutely. But the risk might be too high. That's how former NFL scout John Middlekauff feels. It's one thing to give up draft capital for a player who, when healthy, is among the best in the game. But do you want to do so for a player who is coming off a serious injury and isn't willing to report to his team?
"I would say it would be a no-go for me," Middlekauff said on the Haberman and Middlekauff podcast.
"You'd probably have to agree to a contract with him before you acquire him," co-host Guy Haberman adds. "You'd have to at least have an understanding of what you're going to pay him before you acquire him because you're not going to give up whatever you have to give up for him if you think he's going to come hold out and you don't want to pay him."
Middlekauff believes Gilmore's injury put the Patriots in a difficult situation. They may have been able to acquire a high draft pick for the cornerback had he been healthy. That's probably not going to happen now.
Trading for Gilmore would be a bold move by San Francisco. However, it could also potentially be a risky one, not because of any concerns over talent, but because of the health and salary concerns. That's why neither podcast host feels Gilmore makes much sense for the Niners.
"I have no problem getting him on a discount, but you've got to pay a premium for his services, and he's old, and he's hurt," Middlekauff adds. "... I just would not be in the business of trading for older players when you don't have a lot of picks, too. That's a pretty risky business."