Offensive lineman Kevin Zeitler signed a three-year contract with the Baltimore Ravens. Zeitler spent the last two seasons with the New York Giants.
The #Ravens have made their first move in free agency, agreeing to terms with ex-#Giants guard Kevin Zeitler on a 3-year deal worth $22M including $16M fully guaranteed, source said. One of the top interior O-linemen available, Baltimore quickly pounced when Zeitler became free.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 15, 2021
Kevin Zeitler, Baltimore Ravens, Agree to Contract
After being released by the Giants earlier this offseason, Kevin Zeitler heads to his next destination. The guard spent time with the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns before joining the Giants. Though he was drafted by the Bengals, he signed a five-year, $60 million contract with Cleveland in 2017. At the time, he was the highest-paid guard in the NFL. In March of 2019, he was sent to New York alongside safety Jabrill Peppers. The Browns swapped Peppers, Zeitler, a first-round, and third-round pick for Odell Beckham Jr and Olivier Vernon.
Zeitler played out his college football career at the University of Wisconsin. Playing high school at nearby Wisconsin Lutheran, he was a three-star prospect. Zeitler ranked as the 49th-best guard and 691st-ranked player in his class by 247 Sports. He was a three-year starter at guard for the Badgers. Along the way, Zeitler was a part of Big Ten Championship-winning teams in 2010 and 2011. In 2011, he was named to the First-Team All-Big Ten and was consensus All-American.
Entering the NFL Draft pool in 2012, Zeitler was a projected second-day pick. Instead, the Bengals used the 27th pick to bring him to Cincinnati. Cincinnati was rewarded, as Zeitler made the PFWA All-Rookie team and allowed only four sacks as a rookie. He would start in 71 of 72 opportunities with Cincinnati. Across his time with the Bengals, Zeitler also appeared in the playoffs in all but his final season in Cincinnati. He has not returned since.
The Giants’ decision to release Zeitler came after the league informed teams that the salary cap for the 2021 season would be $182.5 million. Zeitler was slated to make $9.6 million this season, or roughly 8% of the team’s cap space. Before releasing Zeitler, the team reportedly sought trades for the new free-agent guard.
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