Marcus Gilbert - Pro Football Rumors

Steelers Trade Marcus Gilbert To Cardinals

March 8th, 2019 at 12:24pm CST by Zachary Links

The Steelers have agreed to trade tackle Marcus Gilbert to the Cardinals, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). In return, the Steelers will receive a draft pick late in the sixth round.

The Steelers have been working the phone lines in an attempt to move Gilbert and they found a taker quickly after word broke on Friday. Gilbert, 31, has missed 23 regular season games over the last three years, but he can be a difference-maker for Arizona if he stays healthy and out of trouble with the league.

Since 2011, Gilbert has started in all but one of his games and he has graded out as a top 20 tackle in Pro Football Focus’ rankings in the past. Even in 2018, a down season marred by injury, Gilbert placed as PFF’s No. 41 tackle in the NFL.

The Cardinals’ offensive line was downright porous last offseason and the pocket failed to hold up around rookie quarterback Josh Rosen. Gilbert should help on that front, though the Cardinals – armed with the No. 1 overall pick – still have a ton of work ahead of them.

Steelers Shopping Marcus Gilbert

March 8th, 2019 at 9:41am CST by Zachary Links

The Steelers are shopping right tackle Marcus Gilbert for a potential trade, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Gilbert tweeted an apparent farewell to the Steelers on Friday morning, so it sounds like a trade could be imminent.

Gilbert, 31, has missed 23 regular season games over the last three years. In 2018, a knee injury sidelined him in October, but other injuries and suspensions have limited him in the past.

When healthy and on the field, Gilbert has been a quality blocker for Pittsburgh. Since 2011, Gilbert has started in all but one of his games and he has graded out as a top 20 tackle in Pro Football Focus’ rankings in the past. Even in 2018, a down season marred by injury, Gilbert placed as PFF’s No. 41 tackle in the NFL.

The Steelers will work the phones to find a suitable deal for Gilbert and they hope he’ll cooperate with a trade, unlike teammate Antonio Brown.

Steelers Place Marcus Gilbert On IR

December 15th, 2018 at 3:06pm CST by Sam Robinson

The corresponding move from Pittsburgh’s Eli Rogers activation will be key. Marcus Gilbert‘s season will come to a close.

The eighth-year right tackle will head to the Steelers’ IR list, Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette tweets. Gilbert has been dealing with a knee injury and has not played since October.

Matt Feiler has filled in for Gilbert, and while the former UDFA has not been quite on the level of Gilbert at full strength, the replacement has played well. Pro Football Focus has graded Feiler as its No. 39 overall tackle this season.

Unavailability has been an issue for Gilbert in recent years. Injury and suspension trouble limited him to seven games last season, and Pittsburgh saw his 2017 replacement, Chris Hubbard, defect to Cleveland in free agency. Gilbert returned to his right-edge post this year but only got in five games before the knee problem sidelined him in mid-October.

While the 30-year-old blocker is under contract for the 2019 season, his issues staying on the field may put the Steelers to a decision this offseason.

The team could save nearly $5MM by releasing Gilbert, the Steelers’ starting right tackle since his 2011 rookie season. That said, the top-tier right tackle is only in line to count $6.6MM toward the Steelers’ cap. The Steelers are also projected to hold $28MM-plus in cap space, potentially allowing them to keep Gilbert on the books and see if he can re-establish his previous form. But after the troubles the former second-round pick has experienced the past two years, that won’t be a lock.

North Notes: Mayfield, Steelers, Moore

September 22nd, 2018 at 7:25pm CST by Sam Robinson

Browns fans enjoyed the chance to see a matchup between the quarterback most assumed they’d select vs. the one they actually did on Thursday, and Baker Mayfield won the first round between he and Sam Darnold. The USC-developed passer loomed as the frontrunner to go No. 1 overall for months, until Mayfield buzz increased during draft week. However, it wasn’t that tough of a decision for John Dorsey, with Terry Pluto of cleveland.com noting the new Browns GM had a “far higher” grade on Mayfield than Darnold. Both Pluto and cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot write that a return to Tyrod Taylor as the starter doesn’t make sense, with Cabot adding the months-long stance to start Taylor over Mayfield was made by both Dorsey and Hue Jackson. After the Browns’ 21-17 win over the Jets, Dorsey, per Cabot, was overheard saying to owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam, “I think I picked the right one,” appearing to reference the controversial Mayfield-over-Darnold selection.

Here’s the latest out of the North divisions:

Sterling Moore has a workout scheduled with the Bears for next week, Jane Slater of NFL.com tweets. A former Saints, Cowboys and Buccaneers starter, Moore failed to make the Lions’ 53-man roster out of training camp. The 28-year-old cornerback played six games with the Saints last season, his second stint in New Orleans.
The Steelers‘ corner situation will see a boost in a bigger-than-expected spot Monday night. Joe Haden appears set to return for Pittsburgh after missing Week 2, Adam Caplan of Sirius XM Radio tweets. Haden practiced fully on Saturday. Morgan Burnett, however, doesn’t look likely to suit up Monday. The Steelers listed their recently signed safety as doubtful to face the Buccaneers.
Pittsburgh’s reeling on its offensive line. David DeCastro will miss his second straight game because of the fractured right hand he suffered in Week 1. Marcus Gilbert is doubtful for Week 3 because of a hamstring malady. The Steelers declared DeCastro out, and the Associated Press notes B.J. Finney will start in his place. Matt Feiler is in line to start at right tackle for Gilbert, per the AP. The Steelers struggled to produce much on the ground in Week 2 without some key pieces, with James Conner being held to 17 rushing yards after a 135-yard debut in Cleveland. Of course, the Chiefs’ 21-0 start forced the Steelers to pass much more often than they would have otherwise done.
The Ravens did not make a move to adjust their cornerback situation on Saturday, meaning they’ll be down to four healthy players at this spot against the Broncos on Sunday. Rookie Anthony Averett will miss Week 3, Jonas Shaffer of the Baltimore Sun notes. This may force rookie UDFA Darious Williams into action. Although, Baltimore’s still in relatively good shape despite Averett and Jimmy Smith‘s absences. Marlon Humphrey, Brandon Carr and Tavon Young are available.

Roethlisberger Not Pursuing 2018 Extension

June 17th, 2018 at 6:14pm CST by Sam Robinson

While Aaron Rodgers‘ deal has received the most publicity for being outdated among quarterback contracts, Ben Roethlisberger‘s 2015 extension is looking more Steelers-friendly than it did a year ago.

Signed to a four-year deal that pays him $21.85MM on average, Pittsburgh’s franchise quarterback is now well off the pace Matt Ryan ($30MM AAV) is now setting. Roethlisberger’s deal came in below Rodgers’ current contract ($22MM per year) and now sits 12th on the quarterback hierarchy.

The Steelers have a policy of not renegotiating contracts that have more than one year remaining on them. Although, Kevin Colbert said earlier this offseason a Roethlisberger 2018 extension isn’t off the table. Pittsburgh, however, shouldn’t expect a contentious battle from the signal-caller just yet.

“I have two years on my contract. I’m not going to be one to sit here and worry about my contract,” Roethlisberger said, via Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. “That’s not my job. My job is to play football. I’ll let my representation, the Steelers worry about all that stuff. To me, it’s all about going out and playing now. I think there are a lot more, maybe a lot more important people who need to get their deals done now.

“For me to do it two years out, if it doesn’t make sense for the team, I’m not going to sit here and worry about it.”

Surely alluding to Le’Veon Bell‘s impasse with the team, one that is less than a month from a possible point of no return that is the tag deadline, Roethlisberger doesn’t sound like he’s going to pursue a extension until after this year. He’ll be entering a contract year in 2019 just as Ryan was before his record-breaking re-up, thus increasing his leverage. While Roethlisberger be 37 shortly after this season concludes, the Steelers’ Super Bowl window may well coincide with his employment.

The 15th-year quarterback also doesn’t foresee himself gunning for the kind of contract that would make it difficult for the Steelers, a franchise that relies on extensions due to a philosophy that largely eschews free agency, to keep core performers.

“It’s important, too, to understand as quarterback of this team, sometimes you almost have to leave a little bit of money behind for other guys,” Roethlisberger said, via Fowler. “That’s not my job, that’s not my thing to worry about. That’s why I have agents.”

The 36-year-old quarterback is now not debating retirement like he was after the 2017 offseason. He said quickly after the ’17 season ended he intended to play in 2018, and talk of another Steelers extension emerged soon after. Big Ben also grumbled, to some degree, the Steelers drafted Mason Rudolph in Round 3 rather than a player who could immediately help the contending team.

Roethlisberger wants the Steelers to extend center Maurkice Pouncey and right tackle Marcus Gilbert. Both have two years left on their deals and are now seeing their quarterback issue a low-key ultimatum regarding their futures with the team.

“I know in two years, Pouncey, Gilbert, there are other very important guys up that I hope get taken care of,” Roethlisberger said. “Because if they aren’t here, I’m not here. That’s the way it is; they are that good.”

Steelers Cut James Harrison

December 23rd, 2017 at 2:04pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Steelers’ latest Super Bowl push will not include James Harrison come playoff time. Pittsburgh cut the veteran outside linebacker, per a team announcement.

Harrison’s departure coincides with the Steelers activating right tackle Marcus Gilbert off the reserve/suspended list. Harrison re-signed with the Steelers on a two-year deal in March. He will now be placed on waivers.

While this move is certainly a surprise given Harrison’s impact in Pittsburgh and his success as recently as last season, the 39-year-old edge rusher has not played much this year. The Steelers used Harrison on just 40 snaps throughout the season, making him a healthy scratch in some games and failing to deploy him in others.

Harrison said earlier this month he would not have re-signed with the Steelers had he known how little he would play. He will now see if another contending team values him more. He’s attached to a two-year, $3.5MM deal with little guaranteed money remaining. He was a full participant in Steelers practice today.

“There was no animosity or bad feelings. It’s just the business of the NFL. I believe he still wants to play,” Harrison’s agent, William Parise, told ESPN’s Josina Anderson (Twitter link). “We’ll have to wait and see what happens with waivers.”

A team submitting a waiver claim for Harrison could get him for just $70K weekly, Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap tweets.

If another team does not take on that contract, it’s conceivable Harrison — who began his NFL career with the 2002 Steelers — could return to the team if he clears waivers despite his sporadic usage. The other time he ventured away from Pittsburgh, with the 2013 Bengals, did not go well and led to a sudden retirement. Upon unretiring with the Steelers later that year, Harrison re-emerged as an edge force. As recently as last season, he was one of Pro Football Focus’ top-graded edge defenders. This year, though, Harrison has just five tackles and one sack.

Should this be it with the Steelers, Harrison crafted an impressive resume. He stands atop the storied franchise’s sack hierarchy with 80.5 — 3.5 ahead of Jason Gildon — and earned defensive player of the year acclaim in 2008. That season ended with Pittsburgh’s sixth Super Bowl title, one Harrison helped cement with his 100-yard interception return in Super Bowl XLIII.

Bud Dupree, T.J. Watt, Arthur Moats and Anthony Chickillo comprise the Steelers’ edge-rushing contingent. Gilbert has missed the past four games because of a performance-enhancing drugs suspension.

NFL Suspends Steelers’ Marcus Gilbert

November 20th, 2017 at 3:19pm CST by Zachary Links

Steelers offensive tackle Marcus Gilbert has been suspended four games for violating the league’s performance-enhancing substance policy. In a statement, Steelers GM Kevin Colbert announced that Gilbert will not appeal the ban.

This hasn’t been a banner year for Gilbert. Thanks to injuries, he has missed five of the team’s ten games to date. His PED suspension means that he will not be eligible to play again until Christmas against the Texans in Week 16.

Gilbert, 29, is signed through the 2019 season thanks to the five-year, $30MM extension he inked before the 2014 season. The Steelers discussed another extension with him prior to this season, but they ultimately did not agree to terms and the team may have second thoughts about a fresh deal given the way things have gone in recent months.

Last year, Pro Football Focus graded Gilbert as the NFL’s No. 11 tackle among 76 total qualifiers, painting him as one of the league’s very best right tackles. Heading into 2017, the former second-round pick started 75 games over six seasons in Pittsburgh.

Steelers, OT Marcus Gilbert Discussing Deal

August 27th, 2017 at 2:23pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Steelers have discussed offensive tackle Marcus Gilbert‘s contract with agent Drew Rosenhaus, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. However, those talks are “exploratory” in nature given that Gilbert is currently signed through the 2019 season, per Fowler.

Gilbert, 29, agreed to a five-year, $30MM extension prior to the 2014 campaign — he’s already reworked that deal twice, including just before the 2016 season, when he agreed to convert a portion of his base salary into a signing bonus in order to create cap space for the Steelers. At present, Gilbert has cap charges north of $6.5MM in each of the next three years, including ~$7.3MM for the upcoming season.

“Of course, as a player you like to say you don’t look at the [contractual] numbers — saying that is complete BS,” Gilbert tells Fowler. “But at the same time, you have to go play like you’re worth it. Until they reward you, you have to continue to show that. My thing is, as long as I want to continue to be here, I have to do whatever it is on the field to get better and better every year. That’s my whole focus, just being here, being the best right tackle in the game.”

Gilbert is one of the league’s best right tackles, at least in the opinion of Pro Football Focus, which graded Gilbert as the NFL’s No. 11 tackle among 76 total qualifiers. A former second-round pick, Gilbert has started 75 games over six seasons in Pittsburgh, and last year helped the Steelers offensive line finish third in adjusted line yards and fourth in adjusted sack rate, both Football Outsiders metrics.

Injury Notes: Dixon, Pead, Harris, Gilbert

August 28th, 2016 at 7:52pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Ravens rookie Kenneth Dixon is expected to miss four weeks with an MCL tear, but the running back won’t require surgery, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Dixon, a fourth-round pick out of Louisiana Tech, wasn’t going to play a large role on offense (at least early in the season), but this injury means it will take him even longer to ingrain himself into Baltimore’s offense behind Justin Forsett, Javorius Allen, Terrance West, and Lorenzo Taliaferro.

Let’s take a quick look at the latest NFL injury news as teams prepare their rosters for the start of the regular season:

Baltimore isn’t the only AFC club dealing a running back injury, as the Dolphins‘ Isaiah Pead will be sidelined at least two weeks with a hamstring injury, head coach Adam Gase told reporters, including Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald (Twitter link). Pead, a former second-round pick, had been drawing rave reviews in recent weeks, if it’s unclear if Miami will hold a roster spot for him while he gets healthy.
An MRI has revealed that Steelers right tackle Marcus Gilbert is dealing with a “significant” hyperextended elbow, writes Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. Gilbert, however, vowed that he won’t miss any action, telling Fowler that he’ll play in the regular season opener “no matter what.” Just last week, the 28-year-old offensive lineman agreed to restructure his contract and give Pittsburgh some financial breathing room.
The Jets can rest easy after an MRI showed that linebacker David Harris is merely dealing with a shoulder bruise, tweets Schefter. Harris won’t play in New York’s final preseason game (and probably woudn’t have even barring injury), but he’s expected to be ready for Week 1.
Elsewhere in New York, Giants tight end Matt LaCosse will require knee surgery and is out indefinitely, a source tells Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com. The 23-year-old LaCosee, an undrafted free agent in 2015, could potentially miss the season, per Raanan.

Steelers’ Marcus Gilbert Restructures Deal

August 25th, 2016 at 10:20am CST by Zachary Links

Steelers right tackle Marcus Gilbert has restructured his contract to help give the team additional cap room. Gilbert’s salary for 2016 will dip from $3.95MM to $760K, as ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler tweets. Gilbert will likely get the leftover money in an alternate form, such as a signing bonus conversion.

Gilbert’s concession actually marks the second time he has restructured his deal to help the team. Gilbert agreed to adjust his deal in February of 2015 shortly after inking his five-year, $30MM contract extension in August of 2014.

Last year, Gilbert was ranked as the 28th best offensive tackle in the NFL out of 77 qualified players, according to the advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus. The 6’6″, 329 pound lineman started in all 16 regular season games for Pittsburgh.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.