If the Cleveland Browns are going to have a bounce-back 2025 season, their defense is going to need to be dominant.
So with Martin Emerson Jr ruled out for the season after sustaining a devastating injury to his Achilles tendon this week, Cleveland is being urged to target veteran Stephon Gilmore — who is currently sitting at home as a free agent.
Gilmore is one of a handful of unsigned free agent corners still on the market, but he is the best option, per Barry Shuck of the Browns SB Nation Blog “Dawgs By Nature.”
Why Should The Browns Sign Stephon Gilmore?
Gilmore is going to be 35 on Sept. 19, yet he still has gas in the tank based on his 2024 season with the Minnesota Vikings. He had a 63.9 grade per Pro-Football Focus, which put him in the top-half of all cornerbacks last season — it was far superior to Emerson’s 47.9 grade from 2024.
Plus, as Shuck pointed out, he has exceptional pedigree since the 10th overall pick of the 2012 NFL Draft of the Buffalo Bills has basically seen it all — and won it all.
“Gilmore has been to five Pro Bowls and was voted First Team All-Pro twice. He is a Super Bowl champion. In 2019, he was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year,” Shuck wrote. “Yes, Gilmore is 34 years old, so he is not his 2019 self, who had six interceptions that season.”
But Shuck also detailed why signing a low-maintenance veteran could make for a seamless transition — especially since defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz coached Gilmore, albeit a decade ago, in Buffalo.
“He has played 13 seasons and is a guy Jim Schwartz won’t have to coach much,” Shuck wrote. “In fact, he could become what former Browns safety Rodney McLeod was before he retired, in that he could become a coach on the field.
The Browns are short on cap space, in part due to the fact they have the fifth-most dead money ($67.5 million), plus Deshaun Watson’s fully guaranteed $36 million cap hit on injured reserve. But that could be another factor that makes Gilmore attractive, since he is a still-skilled player and could be had for low money.
“He remains a good tackler and would become a great mentor for a young cornerbacks room,” Shuck wrote. “Gilmore’s speed is not like it used to be when he used to run a 4.38. But he still has excellent ball skills and is a solid defender.
“With his age and the fact that he is still available, he would make him come to Cleveland on the cheap.”
What Cornerbacks Are Available For The Browns Besides Stephon Gilmore?
Though Gilmore could be a great fit for the Browns, there are other, seemingly better options, for Cleveland to consider.
Veteran free agents Asante Samuel Jr. and Rasul Douglas are available and each is much younger than Gilmore.
Still, according to Shuck, Gilmore is the best fit for the Browns.
“In coming to Cleveland, bringing back a veteran presence who would instill leadership to finish his career on a high note is a no-brainer,” Shuck wrote. “It’s low-risk, high-reward in a major area of need now that Emerson is confirmed lost for the year.”
