Ravens Boost O-Line With 3-Year Deal for Kevin Zeitler
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Ravens moved quickly in the days leading up to free agency by agreeing to a three-year contract with offensive lineman Kevin Zeitler, the team announced.
The deal is reportedly worth $22 million with $16 million in guarantees.
Zeitler was released by the Giants on March 10.
Free agency officially opens on March 17, but teams are already allowed to begin negotiating with players without any penalties for tampering.
The acquisition of Zeitler will boost Baltimore's interior offensive line. Zeitler is also a natural starter at right guard, where the Ravens have struggled since the retirement of Marshal Yanda.
Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta was transparent when talking about the team's needs this offseason. He stressed that Baltimore has to improve its offensive line either through free agency or the draft.
"We believe in an offensive line," DeCosta said. "We believe in being a strong offensive line. We want to have the best offensive line we can."
The deal also boosted the Ravens' financial commitment to the offensive line.
Entering this offseason, Baltimore had $22,97 million invested in the offensive line, which ranked 29th in the NFL, according to Spotrac. The Eagles were ranked first at $56.59 million, followed by the Raiders ($53.27 million), Cowboys (%2.29 million), Giants ($51.99) and the Browns ($51.07 million).
Here a breakdown of the 6-4, 330-pound Zeitler:
- A nine-year NFL veteran, Zeitler has played in 135 games (134 starts) for Cincinnati (2012-17), Cleveland (2017-18) and the New York Giants (2019-20). He also started all four playoff games in which he appeared with the Bengals.
- Zeitler has missed only nine games throughout his nine-year NFL career, competing in more than 90 percent of his team’s offensive snaps in seven of nine seasons. He has started all 16 games in six of his NFL campaigns, including five of the past six seasons.
- Zeitler was originally selected by Cincinnati in the first round (27th overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft. He signed as a free agent with Cleveland in 2017 before being traded to the Giants in 2019.
- Zeitler started all 16 games at right guard in 2020, helping the Giants average 110.5 rushing yards per game and produce 13 rushing touchdowns.
- While with Cincinnati, Zeitler helped guide the Bengals to four-consecutive playoff appearances (2012-15) and two AFC North titles.
- Prior to his NFL career, Zeitler played in 43 games at Wisconsin, where he earned first-team All-America honors as a senior in 2011. He also helped guide the Badgers to consecutive Big Ten titles and Rose Bowl berths from 2010-11.
