Did Cowboys stars recruit Stephon Gilmore after beatdown of Colts in 2022?

The Dallas Cowboys trade of Stephon Gilmore got overshadowed by the team’s acquisition of Brandin Cooks just days later.

That’s the nature of NFL free agency and the offseason in general. When teams make a flurry of moves, it’s always the most recent addition — assuming they’re on a similar level of significance — that takes the spotlight.

At the end of the day, Gilmore, a lifelong Dallas fan, has a chance to be the best pickup any team has made this offseason. Though past his prime and only having a few more seasons of high-end play left at 32 years old, Gilmore turned in a spectacular season for the Colts in 2022.

His stats and coverage grades speak for themselves, but Gilmore clinched three of Indianapolis’ four wins with pass deflections. Those breakups came on the game’s final play against the Chiefs, Raiders, and Broncos.

Gilmore’s Colts weren’t so lucky against the Cowboys, who scored a franchise record 33 points in the fourth quarter en route to a 53-19 win. After the game, though, seemingly marked the start of Dallas’ recruitment of Gilmore.

Check out Micah Parsons and Trevon Diggs fight over whom would get the former Defensive Player of the Year’s jersey.

Did Micah Parsons, Trevon Diggs recruit Stephon Gilmore after the Cowboys win over Colts?

That’s a tough break for Diggs, but let’s be honest: is anyone beating Parsons in a wrestling match? We’ve seen Parsons toss offensive tackles aside like practice dummies. There’s no way he was letting Diggs wrestle away Gilmore’s jersey, especially after Gilmore agreed to give Parsons his jersey first.

The banter before the tug-of-war was equally hilarious, but it speaks volumes to how much respect Parsons and Diggs have for Gilmore.

Despite losing out to Parsons, Gilmore spoke highly of Diggs, who tied the Cowboys single-season record with 11 interceptions in 2021.

"“Both of those guys are great players. I told them both that I wanted their jersey before the game,” Gilmore said after the trade. “I got mad at one of my teammates for not getting Diggs that day. I still gotta get that now that I’m here.”"

Gilmore had more praise for the young corner.

"“Diggs is a great player. The things he does on the field, just watching him, he has great ball skills. He has a bright future,” Gilmore said, via Cowboys.com “I’m just going to come in and teach him the things I know that I didn’t know as a young player to try to bring him along. We’re going to push each other.”“It’s going to be fun. When the season gets here, they’ve got to throw it somewhere. One of us is going to get tested. Just gotta be able to make the play when it comes our way.“… They gotta throw it. One of us is gonna make the play.”"

Perhaps Gilmore has one of his Bills or Patriots jerseys lying around somewhere that he can give his new cornerback partner.

There was no recruitment pitch in this video, but you have to think Diggs and Parsons mentioned to Gilmore the possibility of joining the Cowboys. behind the scenes. They know better than to put that into effect after a primetime game with Parsons mic’d up and cameras and reporters at every turn.

Brandin Cooks dropped hint of Cowboys trade with cryptic IG comment

Brandin Cooks left a hint that he was getting traded to the Cowboys after he commented on Stephon Gilmore's Instagram post.