Arizona Cardinals acquire OT Marcus Gilbert for 6th-round pick
Mar 13, 2019, 1:35 PM | Updated: Apr 1, 2019, 8:37 am
Marcus Gilbert #77 of the Pittsburgh Steelers is helped off the field by trainers against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the first half of the AFC Divisional Playoff game at Heinz Field on January 14, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The Arizona Cardinals on Wednesday officially traded a sixth-round pick in 2019 to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for offensive tackle Marcus Gilbert.
Arizona also announced the release of veteran tight end Jermaine Gresham.
The report on Friday first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter was confirmed by 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station’s John Gambadoro, who added that Denver was also interested.
Gilbert started five games for the Steelers last year but missed time due to a knee injury, and played only seven games the year prior. He has started 87 of the 88 games he’s played in his career, all with Pittsburgh, after being drafted in the second round (63rd overall) out of Florida in 2011.
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In 2017, Gilbert was suspended four games by the NFL for violating the league’s performance-enhancing substances policy.
In eight NFL seasons, Gilbert has played 16 games only twice: 2013 and 2015.
Next chapter 🙏🏾😎
— Marcus Gilbert (@MarcusGilbert88) March 8, 2019
His contract carries a $4.915 million cap hit before he becomes a free agent after the 2019 season.
He joins an offensive line that was one of the worst in the NFL in 2018, and included D.J. Humphries, John Wetzel, Korey Cunningham, Andre Smith and Blaine Clausell at the tackle spot. Only one starter on the offensive line played all 16 games in 2018 for the Cardinals, and that was center Mason Cole. The line was tied for fourth-most QB hits in the league with 109.
Gambadoro also reported that offensive lineman Joe Barksdale will not be back with the Cardinals in 2019 as he becomes a free agent.
