Pittsburgh Steelers right tackle Marcus Gilbert is probably a very happy man right now as it has just been announced that the former second-round draft pick has signed a new six-year deal that will keep in Pittsburgh through 2019 season.
Gilbert, who was entering the final year of his rookie contract, has started 34 regular season games for the Steelers since arriving in 2011.
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Gilbert’s five-year extension will total out at $30 million. Gilbert was originally scheduled to count $1,026,905 against the 2014 salary cap prior to signing his new deal.
According to Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Gilbert received a $7.65 million signing bonus and his contract actually totals out at $30.8 million.
“It means I am locked in hopefully as a Steeler for the rest of my career,” Gilbert told steelers.com. “It’s a blessing to work for a great organization, the Rooney family, Kevin Colbert and Coach (Mike) Tomlin. Just to be around in Pittsburgh, where they show you so much love, I couldn’t be happier and in a better place.”
The Steelers had previously signed center Maurkice Pouncey and kicker Shaun Suisham to contract extensions this offseason.
With just a few weeks left before the start of the 2014 regular season, all eyes will now be on cornerback Cortez Allen. Allen is also entering the final year of his rookie contract, but there has been no sign that an extension for him is imminent.
