Jaguars: CB Stephon Gilmore wasn’t a good fit for 3 reasons

2. How much would Gilmore have played for the Jaguars?

Gilmore hasn’t played in 2021 yet because he’s been dealing with a quad injury. Since 2012, he’s missed 24 games. It’s uncertain whether he will be 100 percent in the upcoming weeks. The Jaguars cited lack of availability as one of the reasons behind the decision to trade cornerback C.J. Henderson a few weeks ago. If they truly parted ways with the ninth overall pick in the 2021 draft because of his inability to suit up, it would have been puzzling.

Sure, the Jaguars’ depth at cornerback isn’t great, and they could use some help but that doesn’t mean that they should go out of their way to pursue the best available option. That’s like needing to buy a car to go to work, and the first place you look in is the Ferrari dealership.

3. Gilmore would have hindered the growth of Jaguars CB Tyson Campbell.

Cornerback Tyson Campbell has gotten plenty of playing time in his rookie campaign. First, he took Tre Herndon’s place in the lost. He later moved outside after Henderson hurt his groin. Although the results haven’t been great, the expectation is that he will get better with more experience.

If the Jaguars’ had pursued Gilmore, Campbell’s number of snaps would decrease considerably, which would in turn affect his development. While the former Georgia Bulldog was a long way to go, he has the physical talent to become an NFL starting cornerback. But just like most first-year players, he’s trying to figure things out and is going through a period of adjustment. Gilmore’s presence would have slowed down that process.