Steelers All 90: TE Zach Gentry
All 90 is a Pittsburgh Steelers Now series profiling each of the 90 members of the Steelers 2021 offseason roster.
81 • Zach Gentry, third-year tight end
6-foot-8, 265 pounds
Acquired: The Steelers drafted Gentry with third fifth-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Last season: Started the season as the Steelers’ No. 3 tight end, but Gentry played in just two games before being lost for the season with a knee injury. He was not targeted for a pass.
Career: Gentry played in four games behind Vance McDonald, Xavier Grimble and Nick Vannett as a rookie in 2019. Used primarily as a blocker, he had one ball thrown his way, a four-yard reception.
College: Originally a quarterback, Gentry made the transition to tight end at Michigan, where he was a two-year starter. As a senior in 2018, he had 32 catches for 514 yards and was an All-Big Ten selection.
Camp outlook: With 2021 second-round pick Pat Freiermuth likely jumping ahead of Gentry on the depth chart and Kevin Rader impressing on special teams when given an opportunity late in 2020 after Gentry’s injury, it’s a battle for a roster spot for the big target from Big Blue.
Neither starter Eric Ebron nor Freiermuth are strong blockers, so Gentry’s most likely route to playing time is establishing the best push of the Steelers’ group of tight ends.
Future: Gentry is signed through the end of the 2022 season, after which, he will become an unrestricted free agent.
The rest of the 90:
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