The Arizona Cardinals have been very active in the early part of the offseason leading up to free agency. Today they agreed to acquire Pittsburgh Steelers right tackle Marcus Gilbert for a sixth-round pick.
The deal cannot be official until the start of the new league year March 13. Also this offseason, the Cardinals have claimed Tanner Vallejo off waivers and signed Robert Alford, Brooks Reed and Charles Clay after they were cut by their previous teams.
What does the trade for Gilbert mean for the Cardinals?
They go short-term at RT
Acquiring Gilbert shores up the right tackle position in a way. Because they like the prospects of 2018 seventh-round pick Korey Cunningham and believe he could be a starter, they added an established veteran who doesn’t lock them into a lot of money or a lot of seasons.
It is not unlike the attempt they made last year with Andre Smith. They want to bring in someone to handle the job now and ideally develop someone behind him to take over in a year, whether that is Cunningham or a rookie from this year’s class.
They can now focus efforts at guard
When free agency begins next month, it would appear that they no longer need to address tackle in free agency. They can now focus on acquiring a guard, and because Gilbert only will make just under $5 million in 2019, they can sign a higher-priced player, as they did last year with Justin Pugh.
There is little risk to the deal
If Gilbert comes into camp and is terrible or if Cunningham or a draft pick from this year’s rookie class comes in and clearly beats him for the job, because he was acquired via trade, they can release him and have no salary cap penalty. If it doesn’t work out, all they are out is a compensatory sixth-round pick.
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