{"id":122926,"date":"2021-10-08T15:53:04","date_gmt":"2021-10-08T19:53:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=122926"},"modified":"2021-10-08T15:53:04","modified_gmt":"2021-10-08T19:53:04","slug":"what-stephon-gilmore-trade-and-return-of-jamie-collins-means-for-the-patriots","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2021\/10\/08\/what-stephon-gilmore-trade-and-return-of-jamie-collins-means-for-the-patriots\/","title":{"rendered":"What Stephon Gilmore trade and return of Jamie Collins means for the Patriots"},"content":{"rendered":"

As the dust settled on the return of Tom Brady to New England, the Patriots wasted little time focusing on the next step by trading Stephon Gilmore<\/a> and reacquiring Jamie Collins<\/a>. After months of uncertainty, Gilmore was finally traded to the Carolina Panthers for a sixth-round 2023 draft pick. This won\u2019t make an immediate impact on the Patriots.<\/p>\n

Gilmore was not due to play until week 6 as he is on the PUP list. But trading away an all-pro former DOPY is certain to have an impact on the future of the franchise one way or another. Within a minute of the official announcement being made, \u00a0it was confirmed linebacker Collins was returning for a third stint at Gillette Stadium.<\/p>\n

Bill Belichick made a splash in free agency spending a record-setting $159.6 million in guaranteed money. And while it is yet to pay dividends, it\u2019s clear the head coach is still set on reshaping his team around the Tom Brady-shaped\u00a0hole that appeared in 2020.<\/p>\n

So what exactly do the latest moves mean for New England?<\/p>\n

The Impact of the Patriots trading Stephon Gilmore and Jamie Collins returning<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Belichick remains unsentimental about his best players<\/strong><\/h3>\n

It will have surprised no one if they really thought about it. Even though Gilmore is one of the best in the NFL<\/strong><\/a> at what he does, Belichick refused to budge when it came to contract negotiations.<\/p>\n

Some fans were hoping the two parties would find a way. Gilmore has been phenomenal for the Patriots over the four years he has been with the team.<\/p>\n

In his Defensive Player of the Year season, he put up incredible numbers and dominated in man-coverage. He recorded six interceptions, 20 passes defended, and averaged just 5.9 yards allowed per target. As a result, the 31-year-old was expecting to get paid as soon as the time was right.<\/p>\n

Gilmore held out through the summer, demanding a contract adjustment that reflected his performance. But the Patriots were not forthcoming and Belichick decided to ship him out.<\/p>\n

\n

THANK YOU STEPHON GILMORE!!! <\/p>\n

Super Bowl Champion <\/p>\n

Defensive player of the year. <\/p>\n

Absolute Patriots legend. <\/p>\n

Good luck pic.twitter.com\/8d560sUo6Y<\/a><\/p>\n

— Savage (@SavageSports_) October 6, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n