Per Adam Schefter, the Ravens and free agent right guard Kevin Zeitler have agreed on a three-year $22M contract. Zeitler was a first-round pick by the Bengals in 2012 (27th overall) out of OL powerhouse Wisconsin. He played five years in Cincinnati, then two in Cleveland, before playing the last two in New York (Giants), so he is very familiar with the AFC North. He’s missed just nine games in his nine-year career, and only one over the last six seasons combined.
RSR staff react to the signing here:
Tony Lombardi
Right player, right price.
Zeitler’s familiarity with the AFC North and his rugged style makes him a great fit at a fair price, without affecting the Ravens comp pick equation in 2022. The offense just got better!
Todd Karpovich
— Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta moved quickly to upgrade the offensive line, a main area of focus this offseason.
— Free agency officially opens on March 17; however, teams are already allowed to begin negotiating with players without any penalties for tampering. DeCosta took advantage of that window.
— Zeitler is also a natural starter at right guard, where the Ravens have struggled since the retirement of Marshal Yanda. Baltimore has struggled without Yanda in the lineup.
— Zeitler is solid at both run and pass blocking and will be a seamless fit in the Ravens scheme.
— The deal is reportedly worth $22 million over three years, which allows the Ravens to make more moves in free agency.
Dev Panchwagh
Zeitler has been one of the most decorated and consistent guards in the game for some time. He’ll anchor a position that ended up being more problematic than the front office and coaching staff could have anticipated after Marshal Yanda retired. Right guard is a pivotal position in Greg Roman’s offense — one that requires the player to pull, locate, and anchor in mostly gap-based concepts.
In addition to being an upgrade at such a vital spot on the line, his signing as a cap casualty doesn’t count against them in the compensatory formula.
