Among the priorities for the Buffalo Bills this offseason will be finding a long-term deal that keeps star cornerback Stephon Gilmore with the team beyond next season. 

Continue for updates. 

Bills 'Absolutely' Prioritize Gilmore

Friday, Feb. 26

According to Sal Capaccio of WGR 550 in Buffalo, Bills general manager Doug Whaley said locking Gilmore up this offseason is "absolutely" important to the team. 

Whaley expanded on how important a deal for Gilmore is, telling Capaccio, "That’s why (Jim Overdorf) and his staff will be meeting with his representatives. Not only will they be meeting with the unrestricted and restricted (free agents) but other guys on the team that we might want to extend."

The Bills exercised Gilmore's fifth-year option for his rookie contract last April, guaranteeing the 25-year-old $11 million for 2016. 

According to Capaccio's report, Gilmore left no doubt that Buffalo is the place he wants to be while he was cleaning out his locker last month: "Yeah, I want to be here for the rest of my career because I like it here. But you know how this league is, you never know. So just play it by ear, keep getting better, keep playing the way I know how to play."

This is an interesting time to try locking up Gilmore, but that's not because of his performance. Pro Football Focus had the former first-round pick ranked as the NFL's 10th-best cornerback in 2015. 

However, durability has not been Gilmore's strong suit. He has played a full 16-game season only once in four seasons, during his rookie season in 2012, and he ended last season on injured reserve with a torn labrum. 

There's no denying the impact Gilmore has on Buffalo's secondary when he's healthy, but if he's battling injury problems so early in his career, his body isn't likely to become more durable with age. 

It's a conundrum Whaley and his staff face, though the upside of a true shutdown cornerback is likely too rich for any team to pass up. 

ncG1vNJzZmianJqupLTEq6meqJ%2BnwW%2BvzqZmmqqknrCtsdJoaW9paW6Ac3nSrZypoJ%2Bjeqi1y6amq51dmLyvwNGamq1lnJbBpr%2FTZqWer6Nirq%2BwjKuspqeiqHqwuoynnKCnpJ6utbXOp6pmr5mptW6uyKWjrA%3D%3D