By John Sarianides

Bill Belichick just threw all of us a 12 to 6 curveball and we took it looking for strike three. In a stunning signing that has left a lot of people scratching their heads, the Patriots signed free agent cornerback Stephon Gilmore to a deal worth $14 million per season. The Patriots don’t normally dive into free agency head first on day one but for whatever reason, Belichick thought that Gilmore was worth investing in.

Gilmore is a 6-0 190 cornerback who will be entering his sixth year in the league in 2017. He was selected 10th overall by the Buffalo Bills in  the 2012 draft out of South Carolina. Gilmore has 14 career interceptions (5 in 2016). He is a big, rangy corner who is ideally suited to play in a Cover 2 base scheme. He excels at pressing at the line of scrimmage and re-routing receivers in a trail technique.  He is an ideal fit for the Patriots schematically.

Gilmore has struggled at times with consistency in his career but when he is focused and playing within the scheme, he is as talented as any corner in the league. He struggled at times last season in Rex Ryan’s defense and gave some big plays on the outside. In his defense, Buffalo’s safeties were not very good in coverage last season.

So, what does Gilmore’s signing mean for Malcolm Butler? The restricted free agent was recently tendered with a first round designation meaning if any other team tries to sign him, they have to surrender a first round pick in 2017. I can’t imagine Butler is happy with Gilmore’s signing. It is a sign that the Patriots don’t think he is worth elite cornerback money otherwise they would have extended him. We have been here before people. Remember Asante Samuel?

Rumors are circulating that the Patriots and Saints are discussing a Butler for Brandin Cooks swap. It is possible but I feel like New Orleans would want more than just Butler. It will be interesting to see what happens but you would have to think that Butler’s days in New England might be numbered.

I think the Gilmore signing is an interesting signing for the Patriots. Belichick knows Gilmore as a player from competing against him in the division. That familiarity made it easier to sign him but it is still a head scratcher to me. I don’t think Gilmore is worth $14 million a year. I think his struggles last season are partly due to the fact that his skills are declining. That is why Gilmore was adamant about getting $14-15 million per year in a new deal. He knows this is his last chance at a big pay day.

I have given up on trying to figure out Bill Belichick. You can’t. This signing is proof of that. You never know what he is going to do.