After officially signing free agent cornerback Stephon Gilmore, the Indianapolis Colts are building an elite defensive unit.
Colts officially signed free-agent cornerback Stephon Gilmore.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 18, 2022
Gilmore agreed to a two-year, $23 million deal with $14 million in guaranteed money.
It’s the third contract he has signed in his ten-year NFL career.
After his rookie contract, Gilmore inked a five-year, $65 million contract with the New England Patriots.
Last year, New England traded him to his hometown team Carolina Panthers, for a sixth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
The South Carolina alumnus finished with 15 solo tackles and two interceptions in his lone season with the Panthers.
Acquiring Gilmore is the latest transaction in the Colts’ busy offseason.
They’ve also traded for former league MVP Matt Ryan after dealing Carson Wentz to the Washington Commanders.
A Terrifying Defense
The Colts do not want last season’s collapse to happen again.
They had an opportunity to clinch a playoff berth but surrendered 26 points to the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars.
Despite that victory, Jacksonville was a struggling team that still ended up with the first overall selection in the 2022 NFL Draft.
That demise prompted general manager Chris Ballard to upgrade their pass defense by adding Gilmore.
The veteran cornerback is expected to start alongside fellow Pro Bowler Kenny Moore II.
The Colts also added Rodney McLeod, Armani Watts, and Brandon Facyson to deepen their defensive secondary.
Gilmore’s signing also gives Indianapolis an All-Pro in three levels of defense.
DeForest Buckner leads the push upfront at defensive tackle while Darius Leonard hunts the opposing quarterback as the weak side linebacker.
Indianapolis’ shopping spree also included defensive end Yannick Ngakoue, who had ten sacks and two forced fumbles for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021.
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