Dallas Cowboys fans can only hope that George Pickens has an impact similar to that of 2023 trade acquisition Stephon Gilmore. Brought in for leadership and extra depth at cornerback, Gilmore stepped into a prominent role after Trevon Diggs suffered a torn ACL just two games in.
Gilmore predictably didn't skip a beat. He started all 17 game and recorded his most passes defended (13) since he won Defensive Player of the Year in 2019.
Ravaged by injuries in the secondary, the Cowboys could certainly use Gilmore's services. Still a free agent, Gilmore recently revealed that he intends to play in 2025, but not for just any team.
"I wanna play this year," Gilmore said on The Money Down Podcast. "It’s just gotta be the right situation…I’m not just going to sign anywhere, it's gotta be the right situation. I still love the game. I still can contribute. It just gotta be the right place."
Cowboys should absolutely bring back Stephon Gilmore
That quote should be all the motivation Jerry Jones needs.
Gilmore quietly took a visit to The Star earlier this offseason. He left without a contract, but there seemingly is an interest in bringing back the 34-year-old.
"The right situation" could mean a lot of things. Money likely carries a lot of weight, and it stands to reason that Gilmore wants to compete for another Super Bowl. He's only won one in his career and has not made it past the Wild Card Round since he won it all with the Patriots in 2018.
Not only should the Cowboys be back in playoff contention, but Gilmore could walk into a starting role with his former team.
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DaRon Bland is the only returning starter who is healthy. Jourdan Lewis was not brought back this offseason and Trevon Diggs is working his way back from another knee surgery. The same can be said for 2025 third-round pick Shavon Revel, who hopes to be cleared for training camp.
The group is so decimated that Andrew Booth saw reps with the first-team defense in offseason workouts. That is a recipe for disaster.
While Kaiir Elam impressed in OTAs and minicamp, it's important to remember he hasn't had much success in the league since Buffalo selected him No. 23 overall in 2022. Starting Elam opposite Bland would be a massive roll of the dice.
Signing Gilmore would quell a lot of those concerns. All of a sudden we'd be talking about Bland, Gilmore and Elam as the top three CBs. It would also allow the Cowboys to ease Revel back into the swing of things.
With training camp around the corner, Gilmore won't last on the open market for much longer. Jerry Jones needs to act fast before another team scoops him up.