I’ve been trying to figure out why the Dallas Cowboys are looking like they won’t sign Stephon Gilmore ahead of the 2025 NFL season. And even if I don’t love it, I might have an explanation.
But first, some context: One week into training camp, the Cowboys are down multiple cornerbacks due to injury. Second-year player Caelen Carson suffered a knee hyperextension that’s expected to knock him out for four to six weeks. He joins Trevon Diggs, Shavon Revel Jr., and Josh Butler among the team’s injured corners.
Assuming Diggs and Carson can’t go Week 1, the Cowboys’ starting lineup will likely feature Kaiir Elam, DaRon Bland, and…. Who, exactly? Andrew Booth has turned heads early in camp, but Dallas paid the price for trusting him in a starting caliber last season. Israel Mukuamu has proven to hold his own in the slot, but in a very limited sample size. Kemon Hall has zero career starts after arriving at the NFL level in 2019. Troy Pride has had some moments in camp, but doesn’t scream confidence as a starter either.
This is all to say, the Cowboys could use a proven veteran like Gilmore, who started for the Cowboys in 2023 and remains a free agent, a little over a month away from the 2025 regular season. So why not sign him?
First of all, there’s the possibility that Gilmore doesn’t want to sign just yet. He wouldn’t be the only battle-tested veteran trying to save himself from going through the hassle that is training camp. Last year, Gilmore signed in mid-August with the Minnesota Vikings, for whom he started 15 games. The Vikings were one of the best defenses in the league in 2024.
But there could be more to it. And while I’ll make it clear this is speculation, I think there might be a reason why the Cowboys are hesitant to pay Gilmore.