Browns trade CB Justin Gilbert to the Steelers

Browns trade Justin Gilbert to the Steelers

By Adam Stites on Sep 3, 2016



The Browns parted ways with Gilbert before the top 10 pick began his third NFL season.

The Cleveland Browns made a rare in-division trade on Saturday, sending cornerback Justin Gilbert to the Pittsburgh Steelers, just over two years after selecting him with the No. 8 overall selection in the 2014 NFL Draft.

Gilbert’s departure isn’t particularly surprising given the level of play he provided the Browns in his two seasons with the team, and his continued struggles in his third NFL training camp. However, it’s an extremely rare case of a team giving up on an early draft pick after so little time and a rare case of an in-division trade.

The compensation for the Browns hasn’t yet been released, but given the likelihood that Gilbert was too be released, it’s likely minimal and the Steelers are just taking a cheap shot at a player who was once a highly regarded draft prospect.

Even some of the most colossal draft busts in NFL history, like quarterbacks Jamarcus Russell and Ryan Leaf, received a third season from teams desperate to try and capitalize on the skills and athleticism that warranted a top 10 pick in the first place. But the Browns couldn’t wait anymore for Gilbert, who struggled to make much progress from year to year.

"I think he needed to grow mentally for sure," Browns cornerback Tramon Williams told the Cleveland Plain-Dealer of Gilbert at the beginning of training camp. "That's the toughest part of the game. Physically, we all can do it. There's a lot of good football players who are at home right now without opportunity. Physically, we all can do it. It's who can do it mentally. Who can stay in the game mental enough to come out and just able to make a career out of it, because a lot of guys can't do it."

When preseason came and Gilbert continued to make many of the same mistakes that plagued him in his first two seasons, including poor tackling and bad angles, it became even tougher to argue that the former All-American has made the mental growth necessary.

In the time since Sashi Brown and Hue Jackson took over in Cleveland, the new regime has diced up the roster and parted ways with several former early draft picks. Another 2014 first-round pick, Johnny Manziel, was released in March and the No. 6 pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, Barkevious Mingo, was traded to the New England Patriots* in August.

The trade of Gilbert adds to a lengthy history of draft failures for the Browns that Brown and Jackson hope to avoid continuing. Before Gilbert, Manziel and Mingo, Cleveland also swung and missed early on Trent Richardson, Brandon Weeden and Phil Taylor in the first round of the 2011 and 2012 NFL Drafts.

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http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2016/9/3/12752830/cleveland-browns-justin-gilbert-trade-steelers

Well, they traded for a CB.

Still just 24 years old. Maybe they can help turn this guy around...

Ian Rapoport ✔@RapSheet

The #Browns traded former first-round CB Justin Gilbert to the #Steelers for a 6th rounder in 2018, source said.

3 Sep 2016

https://twitter.com/RapSheet?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

Quote :

given the likelihood that Gilbert was too be released, it’s likely minimal and the Steelers are just taking a cheap shot at a player who was once a highly regarded draft prospect.

If it's true that they didn't give up much of anything, then I like the move. Can't hurt to see if a change of environment is what he needs.

Don't see any problem with this. Low risk, possibly high reward.

The Steelers, on the other hand, had planned to select cornerback Justin Gilbert (No. 8, Browns) or LSU wide receiver Odell Beckham (No. 12, Giants). Once those players were gone, general manager Kevin Colbert said it was "an easy evaluation" to switch gears and grab the best player on their board.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000349573/article/shazier-camp-talked-to-cowboys-before-steelers-pick

I like it. Get out of Cleveland to a better organization, with better culture and likely better coaching. Could be another success story like picking up Ross Cockrell last year. Gilbert has the size, speed and ball skills to be productive...its on Lake to coach him up.

The only downside is that I see some former Browns like Donte Witner questioned Gilbert's desire. Maybe he doesn't have the drive to be great, or maybe Cleveland was a lousy environment. If Ray Horton doesn't want him on his defense, there might be something to it.

But, like some have said, a 6th round pick isn't a bad price to pay for him.

He may be starting as a kick returner also.

He had to play with Johnny Manziel and all that drama! How enthused would you have been playing for that team? Hopefully we got him on the cheap and he knows this is a Super Bowl caliber team and he works hard with Lake to turn the page. If so we got a steal if not we got a solid backup on the cheap. Win, win all the way around. The only bad thing that can happen is he tries to be a locker room cancer and that won't fly with this organization, he will be cut quickly if he has that outlook.

SUPERBOWL!

in all honesty i really like this signing. talented kid

Think about this... Gay is in his twilight... If Cockrell continues to improve and Gilbert lives up to the #1 pick we have #1 Burns, and##2 Golston as well. We could be seriously set up for years to come with a shut down deep secondary for the next decade. Not saying it pans out that way but if they live up to the pick status we are seriously deep now.

BlackAndGold wrote:

Well, they traded for a CB.

Still just 24 years old. Maybe they can help turn this guy around...

Ike Taylor ‏@Ike_SwagginU

Zone cover 2 or 3 will fit him perfect...he was known for turnovers...so route concepts shouldnt be an issue...

https://twitter.com/Ike_SwagginU?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

Browns keep all 14 draft picks on initial 53-man roster

Posted by Josh Alper on September 3, 2016

Saturday’s trade of cornerback Justin Gilbert continued an offseason that saw the Browns part ways with players acquired under previous regimes and their rebuilding effort is well represented on their initial 53-man roster.

The Browns drafted 14 players in April and all of them made it through the cutdown from 90 players at the start of the week. Four of those rookies are wide receivers, which likely explains why veteran wideouts Marlon Moore and Taylor Gabriel (pictured) were on the list of cuts that the Browns announced on Saturday.

The team also placed wide receiver Josh Gordon and defensive lineman Armonty Bryant on the reserve/suspended list. Both men are suspended for the first four games of the season.

The rest of the Browns cuts are defensive linemen Kenton Adeyemi and Chigbo Anunoby; defensive backs Pierre Desir, Mikell Everette, Charles Gaines and Eric Patterson; running back Jahwan Edwards; offensive linemen Dan France, Garth Gerhart, Kaleb Johnson and Mike Matthews; tight ends Connor Hamlett and J.P. Holtz; wide receiver Darius Jennings; linebackers Jason Neill and Justin Tuggle; and punter Kasey Redfern.

Punter Michael Palardy remains on the roster, although the team has yet to officially announce the signing of ex-Broncos punter Britton Colquitt. Unless Hue Jackson has some tricks up his sleeve, Palardy should be gone once they do.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/09/03/browns-keep-all-14-draft-picks-on-initial-53-man-roster/

Aditi Kinkhabwala ✔@AKinkhabwala

My phone is BLOWING UP from folks in Cleveland. Cliffs Notes? Steelers are smoking something if they think they can fix Gilbert #ouch

Steelers know Justin Gilbert comes to them w/ not so stellar rep on attitude front. Hopeful they can reach him/Tomlin can talk him straight

Been on their radar for a while. DB coach Carnell Lake loves his physical skills. Cost nothing.

10:34 AM - 3 Sep 2016

https://twitter.com/AKinkhabwala?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

Interesting move. About 1/2 the NFL is saying low cost, possible high reward, and the other half is saying it's another wasted draft pick on a CB that isn't worth anything.

So, what is his role? 2nd starting CB, slot CB, or intended to be a backup and nothing more?

Ian Whetstone @IanWhetstone

The Steelers take on $786,682 in cash and cap charges in 2016 for Gilbert, along with $2,170,023 in 2017. Not a lot, but all guaranteed.

https://twitter.com/DavidMTodd?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

Hawaii 5-0 wrote:

Aditi Kinkhabwala  ✔@AKinkhabwala

My phone is BLOWING UP from folks in Cleveland. Cliffs Notes? Steelers are smoking something if they think they can fix Gilbert #ouch

Steelers know Justin Gilbert comes to them w/ not so stellar rep on attitude front. Hopeful they can reach him/Tomlin can talk him straight

Been on their radar for a while. DB coach Carnell Lake loves his physical skills. Cost nothing.

10:34 AM - 3 Sep 2016

https://twitter.com/AKinkhabwala?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

Haha imagine how much browns fans would lose their shit if he ended up being a good player for us

I mean i hate to sound mean but NOBODY wants to play for the browns. seriously. i bet a good percentage of players that enter the draft are praying that a team like the browns doesn't draft them.

A good change for Gilbert. Hets out of a toxic environment in Cleveland and joins a team with a winning culture. I wanted this kid in the 2014 Draft. I think the Steelers can turn him around.

traded for Justin Gilbert CB from the Cleveland Browns for a 6th round draft pick in the 2018 draft the 8th pick in the 2014 draft.

we be hurtin for CBs to pull this trade off but in imo a 2018 6th round draft pick its worth the trade low risk high reward.

didn't the Brown cut ties with K'Waun Williams?

with the addition of gilbert we have a really talented, young, and fast group of CB's. if they can live up to their potential it'll be lockdown city

Fire Arians wrote:

with the addition of gilbert we have a really talented, young, and fast group of CB's. if they can live up to their potential it'll be lockdown city

SUPERBOWL!!

IowaSteeler927 wrote:

A good change for Gilbert. Hets out of a toxic environment in Cleveland and joins a team with a winning culture. I wanted this kid in the 2014 Draft. I think the Steelers can turn him around.

On this Sir.....We definitely agree...

effyou515 wrote:

traded for Justin Gilbert CB  from the Cleveland Browns for a 6th round draft pick in the 2018 draft the 8th pick in the 2014 draft.

we be hurtin for CBs to pull this trade off but in imo a 2018 6th round draft pick its worth the trade low risk high reward.

didn't the Brown cut ties with K'Waun Williams?

I'd love for them to sign Williams once he's healthy.

He's a solid slot CB from what I have seen.

BKAnthem wrote:

IowaSteeler927 wrote:

A good change for Gilbert. Hets out of a toxic environment in Cleveland and joins a team with a winning culture. I wanted this kid in the 2014 Draft. I think the Steelers can turn him around.

On this Sir.....We definitely agree...

See! Let's just talk football! No more politics!