Carolina Panthers make another huge trade for a former defensive MVP

The Carolina Panthers have been wheeling and dealing under GM Scott Fitterer. His latest trade landed former DPoY Stephon Gilmore.

Carolina Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer has been one of the most aggressive general managers in the entire NFL when it comes to making trades. Fitterer acquired his starting quarterback, Sam Darnold, in one of the biggest trades of the 2021 offseason.

He traded away last year’s starting QB for the Panthers, Teddy Bridgewater.

More recently, he acquired 2020 first-round pick CJ Henderson from the hapless Jacksonville Jaguars in a trade that involved tight end Dan Arnold, an absolute steal of a deal for the Panthers over the long haul but also in the short-term as 2021 first-round pick Jaycee Horn went down with an injury.

Now, Fitterer is at it again, making a trade for former Defensive MVP Stephon Gilmore of the New England Patriots.

Carolina Panthers land Stephon Gilmore in trade with Patriots

Gilmore is a native of Rock Hill, SC who played his college ball at South Carolina and will now return to his home state to potentially finish out his NFL career.

We’ll have to see how that goes.

The former first-round pick has been selected to the Pro Bowl four times and he’s been named to two All-Pro teams.

He had a whopping 40 passes broken up in New England from 2018-19 and picked off eight passes over that timeframe as well.

Last season, Gilmore played in just 11 games with three passes broken up and one interception. He’s been on the PUP list for the Patriots this season which means he is eligible to make his 2021 season debut for the Panthers in week 7.

How can you not love this deal from the aggressive GM Fitterer?

The Carolina Panthers already have the NFL’s third-best defense in terms of points allowed. They have the second-best pass defense. Only one NFL team has allowed fewer first downs than Carolina through four games this season.

Getting Gilmore is certainly a calculated risk for the Panthers. There is no doubt that he will have to prove himself in terms of his ability to stay healthy, but there is no question — even at age 31 — that Gilmore is going to bring a physical element to a Panthers secondary that is already very physical.

Although we won’t be able to see Jaycee Horn with this group, the Carolina Panthers have assembled a formidable secondary on paper and if everyone is able to stay healthy, this is the kind of attacking, aggressive defense that could make some noise in the postseason.

Of course, they have to get there first.

For right now, you can’t help but love the aggressiveness by Fitterer to go out and get a guy who could be a major difference-maker this season and beyond, if he can earn another contract.