Fresh off a disappointing Super Bowl loss, the San Francisco 49ers remain one of the best teams in the National Football League. However, this doesn't mean they don't have anything they can improve on.
According to Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report, one of these spots is on defense. While San Francisco performed well overall, finishing third in points allowed last season, they still had trouble against the top passers in the league, like Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, and Lamar Jackson.
For Knox, the 49ers could get even better if they sign cornerback Stephon Gilmore from free agency.
"Gilmore probably doesn't come across as a potential bargain at first blush," Knox said. "He's a five-time Pro Bowler, a former NFL Defensive Player of the Year, and is coming off a strong campaign with the Dallas Cowboys.
"However, Gilmore is also a 33-year-old who carried a cap hit of only $10.0 million last season—well below the going rate for a high-end starter. He could be willing to take even less if it helps him find the right situation."
Knox isn't wrong. In a conversation with NFL insider Josina Anderson, Gilmore expressed his frustration with being overlooked because of his age.
"I’m still focused on playing, but it has to be the right opportunity. I feel like it’s the age thing with some of these teams," Gilmore said. "If I was 28, I would already have been signed by now; at the same time, I know the value I still bring."
While Knox thinks it's more likely that he'll join the Kansas City Chiefs, replacing traded cornerback L'Jarius Sneed, he can also see him joining San Francisco. No matter where he winds up, it's clear that Gilmore still has plenty of gas left in the tank.
More NFL: Brandon Aiyuk contract negotiations reportedly stall, should 49ers trade him?
