By Blessing 
Cowboys’ Worst Nightmare? Stephon Gilmore Linked to Eagles in Free Agency
The Dallas Cowboys surprised fans this offseason by bringing back a familiar face—defensive end Dante Fowler Jr.—on a one-year, $6 million deal. After recording an impressive 10.5 sacks last season with the Washington Commanders, Fowler stands out as the team’s most notable move so far, aside from re-signing defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa.
Naturally, this move has sparked speculation: could more reunions be in the cards for Dallas? Two prominent names still on the market—Tyron Smith and Stephon Gilmore—have many fans wondering if the front office has more up its sleeve.
Tyron Smith, the longtime cornerstone of the Cowboys’ offensive line, remains unsigned. With both tackle spots somewhat uncertain heading into the season, a reunion with Smith could serve as a valuable insurance policy behind young linemen like Tyler Guyton and Terence Steele. Still, as much as Smith could help, there’s another name that might make an even bigger impact—and that’s where things get tricky.
Former Pro Bowl cornerback Stephon Gilmore, who spent the 2023 season in Dallas, is still looking for a team. Unfortunately for Cowboys fans, ESPN NFL analyst Bill Barnwell sees a potential landing spot that would sting: the Philadelphia Eagles.
“Stephon Gilmore joining the Eagles would be a Cowboys nightmare.”
Barnwell also floated the 49ers and Seahawks as potential destinations for the 33-year-old veteran. But the thought of Gilmore suiting up for the Eagles—Dallas’ fiercest divisional rival—is especially unsettling.
“The Vikings only signed Gilmore last offseason after they seemed to realize they didn’t have enough at cornerback,” Barnwell wrote. “He was more than worth their $7 million investment. I wouldn’t be surprised if the same scenario happened this year, where a team that looks thin at cornerback and doesn’t love what it sees from some of its young guys in camp goes after Gilmore as a plug-and-play solution over the summer.”
Gilmore reportedly wanted to return to Dallas last offseason, but it never appeared that the front office was seriously interested—likely due to budget constraints. In hindsight, that decision proved costly.
Ball-hawking cornerback DaRon Bland suffered a stress fracture in his foot during camp and missed the first 10 games of the season. That left rookie fifth-rounder Caelen Carson thrust into a starting role far sooner than expected. While Carson initially held his own, he eventually became a target for opposing quarterbacks and was hampered by a nagging shoulder injury.
By season’s end, the Cowboys were scraping together coverage options. Andrew Booth, Amani Oruwariye, and Josh Butler each logged over 100 snaps at cornerback, as injuries and inexperience took their toll.
Now, with Jourdan Lewis off to Jacksonville and both Trevon Diggs and Josh Butler expected to miss most of 2025 with knee injuries, Dallas is in a tight spot at corner. Carson is recovering from shoulder surgery, and while the team traded for former first-round pick Kaiir Elam, he’s not yet viewed as a plug-and-play starter.
Considering all that, Gilmore makes a lot of sense for the Cowboys—maybe more now than ever. Despite his age, the former Defensive Player of the Year remains a solid option as a CB2. According to Barnwell, Gilmore allowed an 87.5 passer rating last season and posted a negative EPA (expected points added) as the nearest defender in coverage—a sign that he’s still highly effective.
Sure, he’ll give up a few plays here and there, but compared to the current options on Dallas’ depth chart, Gilmore would be a major upgrade.
Worse yet for the Cowboys, Gilmore could be a perfect fit for the Eagles’ secondary, complementing up-and-coming talents like Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. Although there haven’t been any official reports linking Philly to Gilmore just yet, the match makes a lot of sense on paper—and that alone should be enough to raise red flags in Dallas.
If the Cowboys want to avoid watching one of their most reliable defensive backs suit up in midnight green, it might be time to pick up the phone. Otherwise, this reunion could happen—but not the one Cowboys fans were hoping for.