Bills Focused On Locking Up CB Stephon Gilmore To A Long-Term Deal

Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News reports that the Bills presented CB Stephon Gilmore with a contract offer before the start of free agency.

• According to Carucci, the Bills view signing Gilmore to an extension as a “larger immediate priority” than addressing QB Tyrod Taylor, who will be entering the final year of his contract.
• However, Carucci mentions that the Bills appear to be inclined to sign Gilmore to a deal that would average between $12 million and $12.5 million per season.

One benefit to locking up Gilmore long-term is that they would gain some much needed cap room that they could use to address some other roster needs.

Gilmore, 25, was taken with the No. 10 overall pick by the Bills back in 2012. He played out his rookie contract, but the Bills elected to pick up his fifth-year option last year that will pay him $11 million for the 2016 season.

In 2015, Gilmore appeared in 12 games and recorded 36 tackles, three interceptions, and 18 pass defenses for the Bills. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 9 cornerback out of 111 qualifying players.