Browns, Giants trade Olivier Vernon and Kevin Zeitler
Just days after declining to tag Landon Collins, the New York Giants continued their defensive shakeup by trading edge rusher Olivier Vernon to the Cleveland Browns.
In a rare player-for-player swap, the Giants and Browns made a trade to address key needs. Pass rusher Olivier Vernon, who recorded seven sacks for the Giants in 2018, is headed to Cleveland in exchange for guard Kevin Zeitler.
The #Browns are sending G Kevin Zeitler to NYG in exchange for #Giants pass-rusher Olivier Vernon, sources tell me and @MikeGarafolo
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 8, 2019
This is a huge trade for both teams as they can claim a significant victory. The Giants, who have significant salary cap issues (which led to them declining to use the tag on Collins in the first place), free up $11.5 million by trading Vernon while absorbing $8 million in dead money.
New York also gains a key offensive lineman in Kevin Zeitler, who can start at right guard in place of free agent Jamon Brown. Zeitler is two years into a five-year, $60 million deal with the Browns that made him the highest paid guard in the NFL at the time.
Even though Zeitler is still just 29 years old, Cleveland appears motivated to turn the page from players with ties to the Sashi Brown era, with this deal coming shortly after the release of linebacker Jamie Collins. Moving Zeitler allows the Browns to clear just over $5 million in salary cap room to pursue further roster upgrades.
Don't be super surprised if the #Browns clear even more cap space and move G Kevin Zeitler. Told his name has been thrown around some. After all: it's the old regime that made him the highest paid guard, and this regime drafted Austin Corbett to be an interior OL. https://t.co/Q2A2TUF2mw
— Aditi Kinkhabwala (@AKinkhabwala) March 6, 2019
Since Cleveland clearly feels that Austin Corbett is ready to start, moving Zeitler for an edge rusher makes a ton of sense for the Browns. Vernon has struggled with health issues the past three years, but if he stays on the field he should be a bargain for Cleveland.
The edge rusher market is also extremely thin in free agency, with a lot of the top guys receiving franchise tags. Adding Vernon allows Cleveland to avoid overpaying someone like Trey Flowers or Preston Smith, making this a win-win for both teams.
The deal also involves a swap of draft picks. The Giants will send their fourth round pick, No. 132 overall, to Cleveland and receive No. 155 back in return. That pick falls in the fifth round.
The #Giants are sending pick 132 (fourth round) to the #Browns and getting 155 back.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 8, 2019
While the Giants got a much-needed boost to their offensive line, they now have to figure out how to replace Vernon. If General Manager Dave Gettleman passes on Dwayne Haskins at No. 6, the Giants could pick from a talented group of edge rushers, including Montez Sweat and Clelin Ferrell.