Jacksonville Jaguars: Does trading for CB Stephon Gilmore make sense?

The Jacksonville Jaguars need to add as many talented players as they can.

The Jaguars fired general manager David Caldwell after their Week 12 matchup against the Cleveland Browns. This doesn’t come as a surprise, as he failed to fill the team with difference-makers and opted to part ways with some of the few they had, such as defensive ends Calais Campbell, Yannick Ngakoue, and cornerback Jalen Ramsey.

On the bright side, the Jaguars will enter the offseason with the resources to fill many of their roster holes. They are projected to have $79.67 million in cap space in 2021, per Over the Cap, and will have 11 selections in next year’s NFL draft.

Trading for Gilmore makes sense on paper. He would be an upgrade over Sidney Jones and D.J. Hayden, the Jaguars’ top cornerbacks besides C.J. Henderson. The Patriots cornerback is a three-time Pro Bowler, has earned an All-Pro designation three times in his career, and was the Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year in 2019. This season, he’s allowed a 53.5 completion rate and has an interception and three pass deflections.

From a talent standpoint, Gilmore would instantly upgrade the Jaguars cornerback room. He has a proven track record and won a Super Bowl with New England. That kind of championship pedigree would be welcomed in Jacksonville.