4 veterans NY Giants should replace in 2021 NFL Draft

3) OG Kevin Zeitler

Kevin Zeitler has been the NY Giants’ most consistent and dominant offensive lineman since his arrival in 2019, but he is also the oldest and most expensive.

Last season, Zeitler, 30, produced a 65.9 overall grade from Pro Football Focus while allowing just 28 pressures and two sacks, despite playing alongside an offensive tackle rotation of inconsistency in veteran Cam Fleming and rookie Matt Peart.

The Giants would strongly prefer to keep Zeitler, but restructuring his contract might be a necessity to make that a reality. Zeitler is set to count $14.5 million against the cap in 2021, the final year of his contract. However, the Giants can free up $12 million in cap space while absorbing a $2.5 million dead-money hit by releasing him as a pre-June 1 cut. Signing Zeitler to an extension just might benefit both sides as it would allow the NY Giants to distribute his remaining cap money over multiple years and provide some stability for Zeitler.

Regardless of whether Zeitler returns this season, or beyond, fifth-round rookie Shane Lemieux was uninspiring to say the least in 2020, and drafting depth along the interior of the offensive line needs to be a top organizational priority.

Possible NFL Draft targets:

Deonte Brown (Alabama), Jack Anderson (Texas Tech), Tommy Doyle (Miami-Ohio), Stewart Reese (Florida)