As the regular season is just over a week away, many transactions have been made across the National Football League as rosters are trimmed to just 53. The New Orleans Saints, along with many other teams, made some waiver claims to get the final roster solidified.
The Saints made two waiver claims, one for former Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Trey Palmer and another for former Denver Broncos guard Xavier Truss. However, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo says that the team placed one more claim on former Baltimore Ravens cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis, who would eventually land in Tennessee.
It sounds like the Saints are still looking to bolster the cornerback room. Sports Illustrated's Patrick McAvoy suggests that if New Orleans is truly in the market for another cornerback, then they should consider bringing on former defensive player of the year, Stephon Gilmore.
Stephon Gilmore's potential impact on the Saints
Grabbing Gilmore is a little different than claiming Armour-Davis off waivers. This would be a move for a starter, rather than depth.
Stephon Gilmore, who spent last year with the Minnesota Vikings, has been in the NFL for 13 seasons since 2012, when the Buffalo Bills took him with the 10th overall pick. At 34-years old, he could provide a veteran voice in the cornerback room in New Orleans. Isaac Yiadom is the oldest player in the room, and he's only 28-years old.
Through his career, Gilmore has 617 total tackles, 32 interceptions, and 149 passes defended. Those statistics led him to acquire many accolades, including defensive player of the year in 2019 and a Super Bowl ring. Additionally, he made the First-Team All Pro team in 2018 and 2019 and made the Pro Bowl five times (2016, 2018-2021). However, Gilmore has been a journeyman type of player, playing for four different teams in the past four years.
The Saints don't have much cap space left (only $7.1 million), so if signed, Gilmore would likely only stay in the Crescent City for a year before either re-signing, heading elsewhere, or hanging up his cleats.