Cowboys' latest roster move signals end of Stephon Gilmore dream

It wasn't long ago that Mike McCarthy and the Dallas Cowboys' front office promised fans they'd be involved in the post-June 1 market. That promise has so far gone unfulfilled. If there was ever a move that could make up for the inactivity, re-signing Stephon Gilmore is it.

The Cowboys brought in free agent wide receiver Zay Jones for a visit in May, but ultimately lost out to the Cardinals, who gave Jones a one-year, $2.25 million deal. That speaks to the budget Dallas is working with, so it's no surprise they signed All-UFL linebacker Willie Harvey Jr. to the roster on Tuesday.

Harvey led the UFL in tackles and topped linebackers in multiple categories, including tackles for loss, forced fumbles and passes defended. Unlike previous spring league signings Brandon Aubrey and KaVontae Turpin, Harvey has previous NFL experience. He played in four games for the Browns in 2019 and 2021.

Just hours later, the Cowboys announced they agreed to terms with another UFL standout: cornerback Gareon Conley. This does not bode well for fans' hopes that Dallas will re-sign Gilmore before training camp.

Cowboys signing Gareon Conley all but confirms Stephon Gilmore's departure

Conley is a former first-round pick of the Raiders in 2017. He played in 23 games, including 20 starts, in three seasons before he was traded to the Texans in 2019. Conley started six games for Houston that season, but that marked his most recent NFL action. This is a classic Cowboys reclamation project.

Now 28 years old, Conley reunites with Paul Guenther, who was his defensive coordinator with the Raiders in 2018 and 2019 before he was traded. Guenther is now the Cowboys' defensive run-game coordinator under Mike Zimmer. It stands to reason that Guenther was involved in the decision-making process before Conley was signed.

The Cowboys' cornerback room has questions behind Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland, but Conley faces long odds to make the 53-man roster. He'll have to unseat fifth-round pick Caelen Carson, Nahshon Wright, second-year pro Eric Scott Jr. and potentially Israel Mukuamu.

The bigger takeaway, though, is that Dallas has clearly made up its mind about Gilmore. Though Gilmore is still a free agent, it seems the Cowboys are content preserving their $12 million in remaining cap room on small-scale moves until they agree to extensions with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb.

The Cowboys likely think they have three solid starters in Diggs, Bland and Jourdan Lewis and enough talent behind them between Carson and Co. In their eyes, Gilmore is more of a luxury than a necessity.

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