Stephon Gilmore is one of the best defensive players in the NFL, and while he already was being paid as such, the New England Patriots have decided to further reward him.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Patriots are giving the reigning Defensive Player of the Year a $5 million raise. Gilmore was set to earn a base salary of $10.5 million in 2020, but now will earn $15.5 million.
Patriots gave reigning Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore a significant raise for this season today, bumping his salary from $10.5 million to $15.5M with chance to earn up to $17.5M in incentives even as he has two years left on his contract, per league sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 11, 2020
If incentives are reached, Gilmore can earn up to $17.5 million.
The 29-year-old is entering the fourth year of the five-year, $65 million deal he signed with New England as a free agent in 2017. When he signed that deal, it was among the richest for a cornerback in the NFL. With salaries higher than they've ever been, it pushed the Patriots to increase his pay.
Last season, Gilmore recorded six interceptions (two returned for touchdowns), one fumble recovery and 44 solo tackles. His 20 passes defended tied a career high.
After giving Gilmore his raise, the Patriots now have $26,677,975 in salary cap space, according to Miguel Benzan (AKA PatsCap).
My new Patriots salary cap space number after Stephon Gilmore's well-deserved raise is $26,677,975. Am presuming the $2M in incentives are NLTBE. If wrong, then the cap space number will decrease.
— Cap Space = $26,677,975 (@patscap) September 11, 2020
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