What Justin Gilbert’s release means for Steelers 2017 draft

Another year, and another unceremonious end to a traveling cornerback’s tenure with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

We have released CB Justin Gilbert. https://t.co/0VfJPoPbWC

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) February 6, 2017

Gilbert was acquired in a trade with the Cleveland Browns last September, following an injury to 2015 second round draft pick Senquez Golson. Gilbert entered the NFL as the Brown’s first round pick (8th overall) in 2014. He was the top corner chosen that year.

Justin Gilbert is the latest on a list of discarded players who were acquired to help patch or repair a damaged Steelers secondary.

Last season, the Steelers failed to resign Brandon Boykin, who was brought in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles. They also parted ways with CB Antwon “Valentino” Blake, who was claimed off of waivers from the Jacksonville Jaguars several seasons earlier. They also released long-maligned corner Cortez Allen, who showed promise early in his career and was rewarded with a handsome contract, before failing to perform up to task over the course of two seasons.

A year before those departures, Pittsburgh also said goodbye to CB Brice McCain, a player they also claimed off the waiver wire following his release from the Houston Texans. McCain had a solid season on a one-year deal with the Steelers, and cashed in by leaving the team in free agency.

It was hoped that Gilbert could potentially be brought in to live up to his top draft status billing, but the corner failed to find any traction in playing time behind veteran William Gay, first round pick Artie Burns, and another waiver pickup from the 2015 season, Ross Cockrell.

With Senquez Golson having never played a down of football in two seasons since he was drafted, and Cockrell tenured as a restricted free agent this offseason, the Steelers are left with only Gay, Burns, Golson and practice squad player Al-Hajj Shabazz (who was released and resigned to the active roster several times throughout the regular season).

Gilbert’s release proves to be a non-factor for the Steelers, who risked a 2018 sixth-round draft pick to see if the former 8th overall pick could improve their team.

Instead, Gilbert is released less than a year after he was brought in, following only 11 total snaps on the defensive side of the ball, and registering a single solo tackle in 12 appearances.

Those 11 snaps equate to a little over 1% of the team’s defensive plays in the 2016 season, showing for whatever reason, Gilbert couldn’t get on the field. Some of that was due to injuries, but even when healthy, Gilbert failed to contribute on special teams. The former Oklahoma State standout played the 18th most snaps on that unit, behind players who also missed time due to injuries such as Shamarko Thomas and Darrius Heyward-Bey.

Gilbert was once considered the top cornerback available in his draft, and should serve as a reminder that high draft picks aren’t always a guarantee of proven success on the professional football field.

That means the next person to come in can’t do much worse in terms of contributions than Gilbert did. The Steelers could pursue a lesser known free agent, but it’s more likely they could use a late round flyer in April’s upcoming NFL Draft to find insurance for the oft-injured Golson, and the ineffective Gilbert.