Ravens Offseason Plans: What Would Kevin Zeitler Extension Look Like?
It took 12 seasons for Kevin Zeitler to finally be recognized as one of the better guards in all of football.
Now, his strong performance in 2023 has left the Baltimore Ravens with a very difficult cap conundrum. Should they look to resign a player coming off his best season at 33 years old, or should they let him walk in free agency while opening up another need on a talented offense?
In 2021 Zeitler signed a three-year, $22 million deal (AAV of $7.5 million) with the Ravens as a 30-year-old lineman who has had solid experience but was never considered the best at his position.
Now, that price tag could go up. Not just because Zeitler reached the Pro Bowl or recorded an elite 69.3 Pro Football Focus grade, but because he's the best guard on the open market.
Consider this, Miami Dolphins guard Robert Hunt is projected to earn potentially close to $11.8 million annually for a team this offseason. Hunt is 27, a clear sign of a higher overall upside, but missed seven six games in 2023 and was nowhere near as effective as Zeitler.
If Hunt's projected contract is worth close to $12 million, what would Zeitler's look like?
In the end, it's far more likely that Hunt's contract is somewhere lower than $10 million per year. That means, though, that a player like Zeitler could easily commander 10-12 million in his own negotiation.
Sure, he's 33 and may only be effective for a few more years, but he's the best guard on the open market and should help many teams out there.
If the Ravens are going to push to bring back one of their best offensive linemen, they will probably need to make sure a deal close to an annual north of $10 million is on the table.
If they don't pay that, someone else probably will.
