Baltimore Ravens sign ex-NY Giants guard Kevin Zeitler to massive deal
Former NY Giants offensive guard Kevin Zeitler signed a three-year contract with the Baltimore Ravens Monday, landing with a Super Bowl contender
It didn’t take long for former NY Giants offensive guard Kevin Zeitler to find a new home.
Zeitler, released by the Giants on March 10th in an effort to create space under the salary cap, agreed to terms Monday on a three-year deal worth $22.5 million, including $16 million guaranteed with the Baltimore Ravens, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Monday.
Because Zeitler was released by the NY Giants prior to free agency, he as free to sign with any team he wished before the new league-year begins, and the Ravens certainly made it clear that they coveted the 31-year-old.
Prior to his release, Zeitler was scheduled to count $14 million against the cap for the NY Giants, who cleared $12 million in cap space by cutting him. With the cap set at $183.5 million, it was untenable for the Giants to retain Zeitler.
Zeitler now moves from a franchise that won just nine games since his arrival as part of the Odell Beckham Jr. blockbuster trade with the Cleveland Browns prior to the 2019 season, to the Baltimore Ravens, who boast 2019 MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson and has made two consecutive trips to the postseason.
Judging by the financial commitment — and guaranteed money included in his deal — that the Ravens firmly believe Zeitler can be an anchor along their offensive line, after he allowed just two sacks and 28 total pressures last season.
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Matt Lombardo is the site expert for GMenHQ, and writes Between The Hash Marks each Wednesday for FanSided. Follow Matt on Twitter: @MattLombardoNFL.