An excellent offensive lineman could be on the trade block, and the Arizona Cardinals would be wise to pursue him.
It’s not every day that rumors start swirling that one of the top offensive guards in the NFL could be on the move. But, the Cleveland Browns are looking into all of their possibilities and that includes possibly moving Kevin Zeitler, one of the top guards in the league. Per NFL Network’s Aditi Kinkhabwala, the Browns have thrown his name around in trade conversations.
The Cleveland Browns old regime made him the highest paid guard in the NFL in 2017, while new Browns general manager John Dorsey, on the other hand, spent a high draft pick in 2018 acquiring his probable replacement in Austin Corbet.
John Dorsey has been active with his Browns this off-season, including cutting veteran linebacker Jamie Collins and signing controversial running back Kareem Hunt. Considering that the Browns will owe Zeitler $39.2M over the next three years, per Over The Cap, the possibility of trading him away is there for the right price.
The Arizona Cardinals should be willing to trade for the well-paid guard, as he is worth the pricey investment, even if that includes giving up a valuable pick (not the first).
At just 28-years-old, Zeitler is already one of the top guards in the NFL, and most importantly, is a hard man to get past while in pass protection. According to Pro Football Focus, Zeitler allowed just one pressure in every 58 snaps, the best mark in the NFL amongst guards. He also finished the year as their sixth-ranked guard in overall play, with a 74.5 grade.
While it remains to be seen just what John Dorsey is asking for in return for Zeitler’s services, Steve Keim would be foolish not to give Dorsey a call, as the Cardinals offensive line could use a talent of his caliber.
The Arizona Cardinals allowed 50+ sacks for a second season in a row in 2018, and have a hole to fill at the guard position adjacent Justin Pugh. The 6-4, 335-lb Kevin Zeitler could certainly be a player to not only fill that void but also keep Josh Rosen on his feet for extended periods of time.
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