Colts trade five-time Pro Bowl cornerback Stephon Gilmore to Cowboys and cut QB Matt Ryan

After a relatively quiet start to free agency in Dallas, the Cowboys made some noise on Tuesday, acquiring cornerback Stephon Gilmore from the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for a fifth-round selection in this year’s draft.

The 2019 Defensive Player of the Year was ranked the ninth-best cornerback in the NFL last season, according to Pro Football Focus, with 11 passes defended, two interceptions and 66 tackles, starting 16 games.

Adding Gilmore, a five-time Pro Bowler while also re-signing Donovan Wilson signals a change in approach for the Cowboys, who had loaded up heavily on offence over the previous two campaigns.

The Cowboys’ defence led by coordinator Dan Quinn has led the NFL in takeaways in each of the past two regular seasons, while as a team, they had a combined 54 sacks, the third most in the league in 2022.

Gilmore is expected to be paired with Trevon Diggs, who has been selected to the Pro Bowl in the last two seasons, making the Cowboys one of the best secondaries on paper heading into 2023.

They will be complemented by another promising cover man in DaRon Bland, who led Dallas with five interceptions last season, playing primarily in the slot.

Gilmore, a two-time All-Pro, was part of the Patriots Super Bowl-winning team during the 2018 campaign.

That wasn’t the only move the Colts made on Tuesday, as they cut former league MVP Matt Ryan after just one season with the team.

Ryan, who led the Atlanta Falcons to a Super Bowl appearance in the 2016 season, had a rough 2022 campaign, throwing for 3,057 yards, 14 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

While his future remains unclear he will be getting great financial compensation, as he’s entitled to $12 million regardless of what he decides to do next season.