The New York Giants and Cleveland Browns swapped players in pass-rusher Olivier Vernon and guard Kevin Zeitler.
Vernon is under contract for two more seasons and scheduled to make $15.5 million for each. He started his career with the Miami Dolphins but has played with the Giants the last three seasons. He’s accounted for 51 sacks and 319 total tackles in his seven-year career.
Giants traded DE Olivier Vernon for RG Kevin Zeitler, source tells ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 8, 2019
Zeitler is regarded as one of the better offensive guards in the league, if not best offensive linemen in general. He signed a five-year, $60 million contract with the Cleveland Browns after five years with the Cincinnati Bengals, the team that drafted him with the 27th overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft out of Wisconsin.
As far as the trade, the teams’ swap players from a relative position of strength for players that can help fix a position of need. The Browns might think they can replace Zeitler’s production for cheaper, and the Giants continue to rebuild an offensive line with known quality players. Or at the very least, for Cleveland, they think their financial resources are better allocated to a pass rush.
From our breaking news segment: The #Browns and #Giants made a big-time trade. Olivier Vernon to Cleveland; Kevin Zeitler to New York … and it actually helps both teams. pic.twitter.com/MJwGFiF33d
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 8, 2019
Ever since the Giants signed Vernon, he’s played under a microscope because many criticized the size of the contract when they signed him from the Miami Dolphins.
