NFL Trade Rumors: Minnesota Vikings Hosting Free Agent Cornerback Stephon Gilmore

The Minnesota Vikings could be on the verge of adding a former Defensive Player of the Year. According to Senior NFL Insider Josina Anderson, five-time Pro Bowl cornerback Stephon Gilmore will visit with the Vikings on Monday.

NEWS: Free agent CB Stephon Gilmore tells me he’s flying out on Sunday to visit with the #Vikings on Monday. pic.twitter.com/MadFhhSBbI
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) August 10, 2024

Gilmore most recently started 17 games for the Dallas Cowboys, but he is best remembered for a dominant four-year stretch with the New England Patriots, during which he earned two first-team All-Pros and three Pro Bowls. He was also a Super Bowl hero, securing a crucial fourth-quarter interception in the Patriots' victory over the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII.

Gilmore has bounced around the league over the past few years, splitting time with the Carolina Panthers, Indianapolis Colts, and Cowboys, but he remains a capable cornerback in man and zone. Over his past three seasons, he has earned respectable Pro Football Focus grades of 77.1, 79.1, and 74.4 while allowing a mere 78.4 passer rating on throws in his direction.

Gilmore is set to turn 34 years old in September, but he's clearly proven he remains a valuable veteran. He would be a meaningful addition to a Vikings defense for the 2024 season, but given the fact that they may be in the early stages of a rebuild, the Vikings may be better off trying to develop younger talent that would have better chances of contributing in 2025 and beyond. The Vikings' immediate future is uncertain following the departure of longtime starting quarterback Kirk Cousins, and Gilmore would be a better fit for a team competing for a championship.