Steelers Now Have An Alternate Option At Cornerback If They Want A Reunion

The Pittsburgh Steelers have an extremely jam-packed cornerback room. It's fair to assume the top three are veteran, Patrick Peterson, Levi Wallace and rookie, Joey Porter Jr. There is a bit of a cluster everywhere else, but another rookie in Cory Trice Jr., along with James Pierre are likely to enter training camp as the favorites to round out the top five on the depth chart. The slot corner position is certainly a concern for Pittsburgh as July's training camp is rapidly approaching. No one is quite sure who will ascend and take over the role permanently.

While the first three cornerbacks listed above have the potential to be a heavily relied on and productive group, injuries happen and players don't always live up to expectations. Training camp begins at the end of July and it's very possible that the Steelers decide to add to the room in order for more competition to be brought into the locker room.

Currently, guys like Chandon Sullivan and XFL standout, Luq Barcoo are hoping to perform well enough to get past preseason cuts and land on the 53-man roster shortly before the 2023 season gets underway. Madre Harper is also in the mix to wear the black and gold in the fall. It might not be a bad idea for Pittsburgh's front office to reach out to a former undrafted free agent signee as well.

Mark Gilbert has played extremely well for the Pittsburgh Maulers in the United States Football League (USFL). He is a key piece in a dominant defense that has helped propel the team to the Championship on Saturday, July 1st. Gilbert is the only player in the league with four interceptions and leads a defense that is only allowing 17.2 points per game.

Back in 2021, the Steelers signed Gilbert as an undrafted free agent. He ended up landing on the practice squad and was signed off of it by the Detroit Lions. Pittsburgh could have promoted him to the 53-man roster which would have blocked the move, but Gilbert ended up heading to Detroit. He played in eight games and had three tackles with a forced fumble.

The short 2021 appearance wouldn't be his only stint in Pittsburgh. The Lions re-signed him in 2022, but waived him just prior to the regular season. This opened the door for the Steelers to bring him back. He spent the year on the practice squad and did not end up receiving a futures contract with the organization for 2023, which is why he signed with the Maulers.

Gilbert will attempt to win a championship and because of the USFL's season ending in July, it's hard to imagine him jumping into a training camp right away, especially if he is not familiar with a franchise. Pittsburgh could very well be on the phone with him in an attempt to bring him back to the NFL if he is open to the opportunity. He is familiar with the coaching staff and defensive playbook. It could be a perfect match and he has regular season in-game experience with Detroit.

Steelers Could Use Another Capable And Experienced Guy In The Cornerback Room

The cornerback was a member of the 2022 All-USFL Team and should receive looks from a few NFL squads. There's no guarantee that he will make any 53-main roster, but he would bring a little bit of experience to any organization. His best chances of playing on Sundays in the fall may be ending up with either the Steelers or Lions. Pittsburgh could definitely use the depth and another guy who will bring in competition. It just so happens he's already in the city and he wouldn't have to move.

Do you think the Steelers should give Gilbert a call after the 2023 USFL Championship? Let us know in the comments below!

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