Steelers 2-a-days: Can intriguing late-round picks Zach Gentry, Ulysees Gilbert gain notice?
Editor’s note: From now until the first practice of training camp at Saint Vincent College, the Trib will be running through the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 90-man roster, assessing each player’s outlook for the 2019 season. The breakdown will go through the roster in mostly-alphabetical order, (at least) two per day, between June 14 and July 26.
TE ZACH GENTRY
Experience: Rookie
Contract status: $581,115 cap hit in 2019, first season of four-year rookie contract
2019 outlook: The Steelers are precariously thin at tight end, so there is a spot available for a young or unheralded player at the position in 2019. As the highest-pedigree player (a fifth-round pick) among those competing for a spot, Gentry would seem to have a good shot to impress during training camp. In an ideal world, the Steelers perhaps would prefer to “redshirt” Gentry for a year before throwing him too much into the proverbial fire; Gentry was a quarterback when he arrived at Michigan, and he had just 49 career catches. But Gentry performed well at summer workouts, opening the door for what could be an intriguing player to watch at training camp.
Zach Gentry is our leading receiver through 8 games this year.
23 catches for 332 yards + a touchdown. #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/k4J4AvcKIw
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) October 26, 2018
LB ULYSEES GILBERT
Experience: Rookie
Contract status: $526,838 cap hit in 2019, first season of four-year rookie contract
2019 outlook: Gilbert took his reps, as expected, at inside linebacker at organized team activities and minicamp; the Steelers had hinted that the sixth-round pick from Akron could be moved to the edge. Since the Steelers drafted Devin Bush in the first round and signed veteran Mark Barron to a two-year, $12 million contract, the most likely path to a roster spot for Gilbert as a rookie is going to be on special teams anyway. And Gilbert would seem to have a skillset that would allow him to excel at, say, covering kicks.
Versatility is what I believe defines #Steelers sixth round pick Ulysees Gilbert III. Here from the nickel spot, Gilbert times this perfectly. In this particular game against South Carolina, he was making plays all over the field. #SteelersRookie #SteelersNation pic.twitter.com/8mZLnvp9VM
— Black and Gold Nation (@B_GNation1) May 18, 2019
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Chris Adamski is a TribLive reporter who has covered primarily the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014 following two seasons on the Penn State football beat. A Western Pennsylvania native, he joined the Trib in 2012 after spending a decade covering Pittsburgh sports for other outlets. He can be reached at cadamski@triblive.com.
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