Buffalo, NY – May 1, 2025
The Buffalo Bills welcomed back a familiar face, signing former first-round pick Stephon Gilmore to a one-year, $5.3 million deal, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The two-time All-Pro cornerback, drafted 10th overall by Buffalo in 2012, returns to strengthen Josh Allen’s secondary after Rasul Douglas’s departure to Miami.
Gilmore, 34, started 15 games for Minnesota in 2024, allowing a 61.9% completion rate with eight pass breakups and one interception. Brandon Beane, constrained by a $5.3 million cap, leveraged $7.3 million from cuts like Dane Jackson to secure the veteran, whose 31 career interceptions and 140 pass breakups fill a critical gap left by Douglas.
“Gilmore’s a proven winner,” Beane told The Buffalo News’ Ryan O’Halloran. “He’ll anchor Allen’s defense.”
The Bills, who drafted Maxwell Hairston and Dorian Strong in 2025, needed veteran savvy to counter their 68.5% completion rate allowed in 2024. Gilmore, the 2019 Defensive Player of the Year, brings elite zone coverage and leadership, complementing James Cook’s 1,086-yard rushing attack in Joe Brady’s balanced scheme.
“It’s a homecoming coup,” said NFL Network’s Bucky Brooks. “Gilmore elevates Allen’s Super Bowl odds.”
With Cook’s $15 million contract dispute unresolved, Beane’s budget-friendly deal for Gilmore ensures secondary stability without breaking the bank. As Allen’s 4,306-yard offense eyes a championship, Gilmore’s return sparks Bills Mafia, reuniting a hometown hero with Buffalo’s 2025 title aspirations.
