Marcus Gilbert, Steelers Agree to New Contract: Latest Details and Reaction

Seeking to create salary-cap space heading into the 2016 season, the Pittsburgh Steelers have restructured offensive tackle Marcus Gilbert's contract. Per Chris Adamski of thePittsburgh Tribune-Review, Gilbert's base salary for this season was switched to a guaranteed signing bonus.Ray Fittipaldo of thePittsburgh Post-Gazettereported the restructuring of Gilbert's deal frees up over $2 million in salary-cap space for the Steelers.Gilbert is entering the third year of a five-year contract he signed in August 2014. PerSpotrac,his base salary for 2016 was scheduled to be $760,000before Thursday's move by the Steelers.The Steelers are riding up against the cap, withOver the Caplisting them as having just under $3 million in cap space.The team does have relief coming next season with $52.3 million inprojectedcap space, per Over the Cap, but the Steelers will also need to spend a lot of money because Le'Veon Bell and Markus Wheaton will be free agents after 2016. In addition, Antonio Brown has earned a long-term extension, though he still has two years left on his deal.Fittipaldo did note Pittsburgh recentlygave an extensiontoVince Williams, and restructuring Gilbert's deal could give the team some "space to negotiate other deals before and during the season."Gilbert wasn't going anywhere, but his new deal does help his financial outlook for the season since he is guaranteed the same money, only it comes in the form of a signing bonus. Furthermore, the Steelers get the flexibility to add talent late this preseason in the event of an injury.Offense,particularly Brown and Ben Roethlisberger,is going to carry the Steelers this season. Gilbert is a key foundation piece on the offensive line at right tackle. He has started all 16 games in two of the last three seasons, giving him a level of experience and comfort with the system that is invaluable for a playoff-caliber team.
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