Panthers Lose Out To Vikings On Stephon Gilmore Sweepstakes, Seek DB Depth

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Carolina Panthers attempted to raise the stakes in their final bid to land coveted cornerback Stephon Gilmore.

But the Minnesota Vikings went all-in by offering the former five-time Pro Bowler a one-year, $10 million deal, with $7 million guaranteed, ESPN reported Sunday morning.

The Panthers needed Gilmore.

With projected CB2 Dane Jackson (hamstring) out “six-ish weeks,“ coach Dave Canales said, veteran reinforcements remain in demand as the Panthers return to practice Tuesday after suffering a 15-12 preseason loss to the New York Jets at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday night.

The Panthers (0-2) close the preseason next Saturday at the Buffalo Bills.

Auditioning for the role opposite Jaycee Horn, reserves Lamar Jackson and D’Shawn Jamison started and were credited with a pass defended. First-year Panthers general manager Dan Morgan certainly will continue to scour the waiver wire over the next two weeks, but if a more experienced option does not develop, Jackson or Jamison could be in line to open 2024 as CB2.

Jackson made a play on a third-and-goal pass early in the fourth quarter. The Panthers later announced Jackson suffered a leg injury and was “being evaluated,” Canales said during a post-game press conference.

With Gilmore off the free-agent market, Eli Apple, Xavien Howard, Adoree’ Jackson, J.C. Jackson, Patrick Peterson, Greg Stroman Jr. and Ahkello Witherspoon could be options Morgan will explore.

Panthers May Hit Waiver Wire This week

The Panthers’ patchwork secondary yielded just 85 yards passing and held Jets’ Adrian Martinez and Andrew Peasley to a combined 43.8 quarterback rating.

“That group is making a statement for themselves as we go forward,” Canales said.

Still, the anticipation of adding Gilmore to the fold hovered over the Panthers since Morgan inked Jadeveon Clowney in March. Gilmore and Clowney were teammates in high school and South Carolina.

“Oh yeah, that’s my guy, I talk to him all the time,” Clowney said June 11. “I just hope and pray he end up here with me. He got options. When you got options, it’s even funner.”

Maybe not as glorious of a reunion as Clowney anticipated last spring, but Morgan attempted to land the former Panthers defensive back, the Panthers’ counteroffer was not as strong as the Vikings’ pitch.

Dicaprio Bottle was asked after Saturday’s game about potential veterans joining the cornerback room this week. The second-year player elected to focus on what he can control.

“Trust me, that’s above my pay grade,” Bottle said. “I don’t make those decisions.”