PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Steelers keep a player they've been grooming for four years that should also be a help to the offensive line.
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports tight end Zach Gentry will return to the Steelers. It's not yet known the length or value of the contract. It's the first opportunity for the 6'8" Gentry to explore free agency who said before entering how much love he has for the Steelers organization. He also mentioned he thought there was tremendous opportunity for growth for this team going forward.
"Came in here as a much scrawnier version of myself," Gentry said in January, as he added a lot of muscle over the last few years. "Done a lot of growing here, learned a lot from a lot of the older guys in this locker room."
The 26-year-old is known as the best blocking tight end of the group and that's where the value is in his 25 starts in the last two seasons. He's also played all 34 games for the team, so durability is a factor over the last two seasons. The former Michigan quarterback doesn't catch a ton of passes, but 17 of his 38 receptions over the last two seasons turned into first downs. Gentry was much more involved in the passing game in training camp last year and might take a step forward in that regard in 2023.
Gentry was the Steelers fifth round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
