Ranking all 8 of the Steelers signed undrafted free agents

2. Mark Gilbert

Had Mark Gilbert not suffered through injuries and serious surgeries over the past two seasons, he easily would have been a top cornerback prospect in the draft. His sophomore season at Duke was incredible, as he displayed great coverage skills and a ball-hawking nature allowed him to pick off six passes. After his breakout year, there were talks of potential first-round grades for him, and at the minimum, he looked destined to be a day two pick.

Since then, Gilbert hasn’t been able to stay healthy, as multiple surgeries and a hip dislocation caused him to only play four total games in the past three years. If those injuries are still affecting him, he could easily be a one-and-done kind of player in the league. That said, that coverage ability may still be there. If he can stay on the field and flash some of those traits that scouts lauded about him before, he could make the roster outright.

While his injuries limited him, he still tested as a good athlete and has the size to play on the outside. If those injuries are behind him and he can stay healthy through the preseason, there is no reason to think he can’t crack the opening roster. At the minimum, he could spend the year on the practice squad due to his outside cornerback nature and wait for Joe Haden to depart next year. Those injuries are the big question right now, but if he can overcome them the sky is the limit for Gilbert.