Video: Mike Vrabel talks about new linebacker Reggie Gilbert
In another time, Reggie Gilbert would have been considered a “tweener.”
The Tennessee Titans see him as a perfect fit.
The Titans traded a conditional 2020 seventh-round pick to the Green Bay Packers on Thursday to acquire Gilbert, an outside linebacker who entered the league in 2016 as an undrafted free agent.
Gilbert spent most of his first two NFL seasons on Green Bay’s practice squad but played in 15 games last season and was on the field for more than 45 percent of that team’s defensive snaps. His 15 quarterback pressures in 2018 were second on the team. For his career he has registered 47 tackles, three and half sacks and 20 quarterback pressures.
The 26-year-old was a defensive end at the University of Arizona where he had at least three sacks every year and 14 for his career.
Gilbert is 6-foot-3, 261 pounds, which means he is built similarly to Brian Orakpo (6-4, 257) and Derrick Morgan (6-4, 261), their starting outside linebackers each of the last four years who retired following last season.
Coach Mike Vrabel talked about the trade Friday and why Gilbert’s background appeals to coaches and the personnel staff as they continue to try to replace Orakpo and Morgan.
