Browns trade Gilbert to Steelers

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Browns continued their methodical housecleaning by sweeping out another first-round pick.

Cornerback Justin Gilbert, who never lived up to being the No. 8 overall pick in 2014, was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday for a sixth-round draft pick in 2018 and Cleveland also released wide receiver Taylor Gabriel as it trimmed its roster to the NFL-required 53 players.

Gilbert was a major disappointment almost from the moment he began with the Browns. He started in just three games over two seasons in which he never seemed to mesh with his teammates on or off the field. The 24-year-old made only one interception and never delivered on the big-play potential he showed after starring at Oklahoma State.

Gilbert’s departure wasn’t entirely a surprise. On Friday, coach Hue Jackson said the defensive back had shown some signs of improvement this summer but did not guarantee he would make the roster.

With Gilbert gone, the Browns don’t have any of the players they selected in the first round from 2011-14. Phil Taylor, Trent Richardson, Brandon Weeden, Barkevious Mingo and Johnny Manziel — all first-round picks — preceded Gilbert out of town. Cleveland’s new front office recently traded Mingo to New England and the troubled Manziel was released in March.