Cowboys FA Stephon Gilmore on Being Unsigned: There Aren't 64 NFL CBs Better Than Me

Veteran cornerback Stephon Gilmore remains a free agent, and he's surprised by that fact.

"Honestly, I'm still being patient and staying ready until teams see what they have in training camp; but you mean to tell me among 32 teams that there are 64 starting corners that are better than me?" he told NFL reporter Josina Anderson. "I don't think that. If teams want to win, I think they should sign the best players. I know I'm still a starter in this league. I started games last year, but the season doesn't start until September, we got a while."

Gilmore appeared in all 17 games for the Cowboys last season, registering two interceptions, 13 passes defensed, 68 tackles and one forced fumble. But with DaRon Bland emerging as a star last season and Trevon Diggs returning from a torn ACL, the Cowboys had their starting corners locked in place.

In June, Gilmore said he was going to remain patient with the free agent process.

"Being patient right now," he told Nick O'Malley of MassLive. "I feel good, Year 13, been playing a long time. So I'm just being patient and waiting for the right opportunity."

While Gilmore is no longer in his prime, the five-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro selection was solid enough for the Cowboys last season that it's a bit surprising he remains on the market.

He told Anderson in May he believes his age—he'll be 34 in September—is being held against him.

"I'm still focused on playing, but it has to be the right opportunity," he said. "I feel like it's the age thing with some of these teams. If I was 28, I would already have been signed by now; at the same time, I know the value I still bring. If you watch the tape, I feel like I played well the last two years, and literally almost played every snap last year. So I'm staying patient..."

There are some players around the league who would be happy to team up with Gilmore, however, including Carolina Panthers defensive end Jadeveon Clowney:

Perhaps the Panthers will circle back to Gilmore. For now, however, he's in a holding pattern.