PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers and Marcus Gilbert's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, have met in person to discuss the right tackle’s contract.

Gilbert, one of the game’s best at the position who enters the fourth season of a six-year, $30.8 million deal, told ESPN that Rosenhaus spoke with the Steelers on his behalf last week but he didn’t know where things stood.

Talks are believed to be preliminary/exploratory since Gilbert isn't a free agent until 2020.

Asked about a potential new deal in the future, Gilbert said he’d love to stay in Pittsburgh long term and “leave behind a big legacy” with a high-level Steelers offensive line.

“Hopefully that’s what talks are going on between my agent and upstairs with Kevin Colbert, but it’s not in my hands,” Gilbert said. “I need to worry about one thing. That’s why I pay Drew.”

Rosenhaus, who wasn’t available for comment Thursday, also discussed Antonio Brown’s contract with the team in 2015, three years before Brown’s contract expired. Brown earned $6 million in sweeteners from 2015-16 as the team moved future money into current years. Then, in February, Brown landed a four-year, $68 million extension.

Gilbert’s average of $6 million annually over the final five years of the deal ranks 11th among right tackles. Offensive coordinator Todd Haley said late last season that he believed Gilbert was the game’s premier player at his position.

Gilbert, 29, is due base salaries of $4 million, $4.05 million and $4.865 million from 2017 to 2019.

“Of course, as a player you like to say you don’t look at the numbers -- saying that is complete BS,” Gilbert said. “But at the same time, you have to go play like you’re worth it. Until they reward you, you have to continue to show that. My thing is, as long as I want to continue to be here, I have to do whatever it is on the field to get better and better every year. That’s my whole focus, just being here, being the best right tackle in the game.”

Gilbert adds he’s playing for the love of his teammates and for the city.

“You don’t want to be remembered as a guy that made a lot of money but really didn’t do much,” Gilbert said. “You want to be remembered as a guy who came in and did everything possible to help win a championship.”