Panthers aren't any closer to fixing team's biggest remaining need ahead of 2024 season

A return for Stephon Gilmore may not be in the cards any time soon. 

Though Carolina Panthers general manager Dan Morgan said the lines of communication are open, recent reports suggest that if Gilmore were to return to Charlotte, it would be at a far later date. 

Joseph Person, of The Athletic, reported Monday that there has been "no movement" on a potential deal that would bring Gilmore back to Charlotte. 

Part of a possible return was the signing of Jadeveon Clowney earlier in the offseason. After the Panthers inked the deal with the veteran pass rusher and Rock Hill, South Carolina, native, Clowney said he would work to recruit Gilmore to return. 

Whether those recruiting efforts have ever materialized is still to be determined. 

The Panthers do need help at cornerback. Morgan made some tertiary moves to address the skill gap at the position. However, Carolina does need to do more.

Gilmore could be that answer. In his one season in Carolina, he made the Pro Bowl as an alternate. He has aged since the 2021 season. At 34, with some injury history, it isn't guaranteed that he will be the complete solution to Carolina's struggles. But he may be one of the solutions if Morgan makes the call. 

It is still in the cards that Carolina might opt for a younger, cheaper option at cornerback. It is estimated the Panthers have around $10 million left to spend after signing all free agents and draft picks.