The Arizona Cardinals need to address their starting right tackle position in the offseason. It is yet unknown in what direction they go. They could go with a short-term veteran answer and let 2018 seventh-round pick Korey Cunningham compete with him. They could also go with a rookie or sign someone more long-term.
If acquiring a veteran is what they have in mind, one has become available via trade.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Pittsburgh Steelers would like to move right tackle Marcus Gilbert.
It would be a situation like the Cardinals had with Jared Veldheer last offseason. Veldheer was entering the final year of his contract, was going to be 31 and had finished the previous season on injured reserve. The Cardinals traded him to the Denver Broncos for a sixth-round draft pick.
Gilbert is 31 and is in the final year of his contract, due to make just more than $4.9 million, hardly a ton of money for a starting offensive lineman. He also ended last season on injured reserve.
However, he played in only five games last year and seven the previous year because of a suspension for performance-enhancing substances. The Cardinals have been bitten by the injury bug on the offensive line the last three seasons and certainly would like durability.
However, if the Cardinals can acquire a legitimate starting right tackle for a sixth or seventh-round pick, even for a year, that is good. After all, based on most recent history, offensive linemen the Cardinals draft on Day 3 usually sit on the bench one year and are off the roster by the next year (Nate Potter, Cole Toner, Will Holden).
Gilbert could be a good Week 1 starter and they wouldn’t be tied to him for more than this coming year. He has ties to Cardinals offensive line coach Sean Kugler, who coached Gilbert his first two seasons in the league.
If he medically checks out, it would be a good idea.
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