Kevin Zeitler would improve Arizona Cardinals offensive line
By Jim Koch
The New York Giants starting right guard would provide an immediate upgrade for the offensive line of the Arizona Cardinals
We’re just days away from the NFL’s trade deadline, and the rumors concerning the Arizona Cardinals continue to swirl. There’s a good possibility that the organization, five seasons removed from their last playoff appearance, are sorting through a plethora of scenarios. One could very well include a starting right guard who’s currently with the New York Giants.
Kevin Zeitler, a former first-round draft pick of the Cincinnati Bengals, could be one of several Giants who may be moved. The ninth-year veteran is a solid blocker who has 118 professional starts under his belt. The 30-year old Zeitler is also a talented player on a team that has one of the worst won-loss records (1-6) in the league.
It just so happens that the Cards have a hole at the spot that Zeitler has performed extremely well at. The squad’s current starter at right guard, J.R. Sweezy, was placed on the club’s injured-reserve list two weeks ago. The journeyman hurt his elbow during a week five victory over the New York Jets.
Sweezy is eligible to be back on the field in week nine, but a deal for Zeitler could relegate him to backup status when he returns. Justin Murray, Sweezy’s replacement, has been average at best during his two starts for the Cardinals. Zeitler would certainly be an upgrade over both of those linemen.
Zeitler was drafted 27th-overall by the Bengals back in 2012. The former University of Wisconsin product jumped ship to the Cleveland Browns as an unrestricted free agent in 2017, signing a five-year, $60 million contract. The deal made Zeitler the highest-paid guard in the NFL at the time.
In March of 2019, Zeitler was included in the trade that brought wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to the Browns. The 6’4, 315 pounder has started 22 games for New York since he arrived in the “Big Apple”. Zeitler will be an unrestricted free agent in 2022, when his three-year contract with the Giants runs out.
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Things could get real interesting for the Cards over the next few days. Improving the roster is the next task on general manager Steve Keim’s to-do list. It would not be surprising to learn that Zeitler is on Arizona’s trade-deadline radar.