A late riser by all accounts on many draft boards, South Carolina junior cornerback Stephon Gilmore was even listed above Morris Claiborne on film guru Greg Cosell’s mock draft earlier this week, which took some by surprise. At 6’0” and 190lbs he has prototypical height and bulk to go with his 4.40 speed, but it the physicality in his play that makes him as a potential #1 corner at the next level. As a three-year starter in college (including his true freshman year in the SEC) he amassed 181 tackles, 17 passes defensed and 8 interceptions and has drawn comparisons to both Charles Woodson (good luck!) and Vontae Davis.
As predicted by many Gilmore did end up as a top-10 pick, but to Buffalo. The third defensive back off the board in the top ten picks seems almost unheard of in years gone by, but it shows you just how much the NFL has evolved. Bills depth chart CB1 Terrence McGee (-0.7) only managed 285 snaps last year, while Drayton Florence graded -10.4, so Gilmore will have every opportunity to start from day 1. Be very wary of expecting starting calibre fantasy numbers from Gilmore as a rookie, but don’t be surprised if his physicality is an asset to him against the run which brings him into borderline CB3 value.
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