Over the past three days, the New England Patriots held their final series of offseason practices with mandatory minicamp.
Cornerback Stephon Gilmore became the notable absence for the week, electing to skip the sessions over reported demands for a new contract.
Gilmore enters the 2021 in the final year of a five-year, $65 million deal he signed with the Patriots as an unrestricted free agent before the 2017 season. The deal included $40 million in injury guarantees and $31 million fully guaranteed at signing. At the time it was considered a great deal for Gilmore, but in the four years since, the NFL cornerback market has risen to a point where Gilmore is now the 24th highest paid corner in the league.