OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Guard Kevin Zeitler signed a three-year, $22 million deal with the Baltimore Ravens, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The deal includes $16 million in guarantees, the source added.
Zeitler, 31, was signed hours before the start of the NFL’s legal tampering period for free agents because he was cut last week by the New York Giants.
Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said one of the major priorities this offseason was to improve the pass protection for quarterback Lamar Jackson, and he backed that up with Baltimore’s first free-agent signing. Last season, Baltimore allowed Jackson to get pressured on 22.7% of his passes (17th in the NFL).
The addition of Zeitler helps fills the void at right guard left when Marshal Yanda retired last year. Baltimore never replaced the eight-time Pro Bowl lineman in free agency a year ago and started three players (Tyre Phillips, Patrick Mekari and Ben Powers) at right guard in 2020.
Zeitler returns to the AFC North after spending the past two seasons with the Giants. A first-round pick by the Bengals in 2012, he played five seasons in Cincinnati (2012-16) and then joined the Cleveland Browns (2017-18) for two seasons. In 2019, Zeitler was part of the trade that sent Odell Beckham Jr. to the Browns.
The signing of Zeitler doesn’t affect Baltimore’s ability to accrue compensatory picks this offseason because he was a cap cut. With pass-rushers Matthew Judon and Yannick Ngakoue expected to sign elsewhere, the Ravens are in line for potentially two third-round comp picks.
