Posted by Michael David Smith on March 8, 2019, 11:37 AM EST
Two veterans who had been the subject of trade talk are being traded for each other.
The Giants are trading pass rusher Olivier Vernon to the Browns for guard Kevin Zeitler, according to multiple reports. The two teams are also swapping mid-round picks, with the Browns getting a better pick in the exchange.
Trades cannot become official until the new league year starts on Wednesday, but teams can agree to trades now, and the Browns and Giants have.
Vernon and Zeitler are both good players but both expensive. Vernon has a base salary of $15.25 million this season, while Zeitler’s salary is $10 million. There was talk that both players could be released if they weren’t traded because their teams didn’t want to pay them.
But the Browns think Vernon is worth the money and the Giants think Zeitler is worth the money. Perhaps this trade will be a win-win for two teams that need more wins on the field.
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Perhaps this trade will be a win-win for two teams that need more wins on the field.
I've always said this was the way a trade should go down......a win, win for both parties. And, I guess Corbett will move into Zieter's spot now.
espn.com
Sources: Giants agree to trade Vernon to Browns
ESPN 5-6 minutes
The New York Giants have agreed to a trade that will send Pro Bowl outside linebacker Olivier Vernon to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for right guard Kevin Zeitler, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Friday.
Vernon led the Giants last season with 7 sacks and 21 quarterback hits in 11 games. That was more than twice as many quarterback hits as any other player on the team. He played linebacker in the Giants' 3-4 defensive scheme last season, but has played at defensive end in a 4-3 package.
He is scheduled to make $15.5 million in each of the next two seasons. With the addition of Zeitler, the trade will save the Giants $1.5 million against the cap.
Injuries have been Vernon's biggest problem since signing a five-year, $84.75 million deal as the Giants' prized free agent in the 2016 offseason. He has missed nine games the past two seasons with various injuries. He didn't miss a game during his first five years in the league.
Vernon, 28, spent the first four years of his career with the Miami Dolphins and has 51 career sacks in 103 games.
Zeitler, who turned 29 on Friday, is due $32 million over the next three season, including $3.5 million guaranteed in 2019.
With the addition of Vernon, the Browns lose $10.3 million in cap space.
A first-round pick by the Bengals in 2012, Zeitler was a Pro Bowl alternate in 2016. In his five seasons with Cincinnati, he started every game but one in his 72 appearances. He signed a five-year, $60 million deal with Cleveland in March 2017.
ESPN's Jordan Raanan contributed to this report.
I guess our big worry with Vernon is going to be how long he can stay healthy and off the IR list. If he manages to stay off at least 80% of the time he will be a great asset in helping Garrett begin to dominate
more against opponents. jmho
I hope they are right about Corbett - because that is a big risk they are taking.
Agree.........but this is what John Dorsey is all about..............he's acts when he feels comfortable with the decision in his mind. Vernon and Garrett, now, the only big question is..... can Vernon stay on the field enough to be a very big 'hazard' to our divisional opponent QBs, especially a guy named Big Ben! I believe I read Vernon has drop-back coverage ability and that could help the loss Jamie and I expect Wilks will have Vernon and Garrett exchange positions at times and both doing more stunting. Another plus: we get a higher pick in the fourth round with Giants #132 pick which was the Giants second pick in that round. So, that gives us 2 picks in 4th round now and still 2 picks instead of 3 in the 5th round.
Thought I would clear that up.
You know - after having some time to digest this trade; I am liking it more and more. I don't like removing Zeitler from the OL group, but we do have a full free agency period, a full draft, and a full season of OTAs and training camp to get the OL humming again.
I am sure that Dorsey and crew have a pretty good idea how confident that James Campen is in Mr. Corbett, and how he will continue to develop young Austin prior to making such a bold move.
Don't forget - you have just added an ELITE edge rusher to pair with Myles - I see a lot af games called "Meet you at the Quarterback" being played.
So all that being said - you make this trade 12 days out of 10.
Another thing that makes this trade much more palatable - the Giants are picking up $4M of Vernon's $15M salary for 2019.
I will say that I have ventured to a few multi team forum sites. In general, the comments have been that GM Dave Gettleman is an absolute genius for finding a "sucker" to "dump" the overrated and overpriced Olivier Vernon onto. And the Browns are equally dumb for giving the Giants exactly what they wanted - quality offensive line help.
No New Yawk mentality there - you arrogant tools. I completely disagree with that line of thinking.
I will agree that losing Zeitler hurts. Another in the Badger lineage of successful offensive linemen here in Cleveland. But, I also believe in John Dorsey's track record of acquiring talent, and more importantly, I believe in OL coach James Campen's track record of developing Pro Bowlers along the OL. So, if those two think that Austin Corbett is ready to step up into Zeitler's spot - who am I to disagree?
But to the meat and potatoes of this trade - DE Olivier Vernon. Big Blue Nation claims he was overrated. I will counter with this - if he seems like he was overrated, it was due to him always going against the tackle plus being chipped simultaneously by a tight end or a running back. Offenses that the Giants faced did that because they could afford to - no one else demanded that kind of attention on the Giants front seven.
I dare defense that face the Browns in 2019 to utilize that same approach. If they do - I will make them this promise. Myles Garrett, Larry Ogunjobi, and our yet to be drafted DT WILL EAT YOUR QB ALIVE. This acquisition was so necessary because more pressure and speed off the edge will put the fangs back in this defense. The parts as individual pieces may not be great - but together as one sum - LOOK OUT.
I hope Olivier and Corbett hears this garbage.
Seriously, Stabbs - you have to ask that question? In this age of Twitter? I am sure they have already heard "YOU AIN"T NOTHIN"!"......
Thanks for the well timed chuckle.
The more I think about this trade, the more brilliant I think it is.
We trade a guy who we were likely going to cut after this season (according to reports) for a really good second pass rusher with two years left on his contract. I bet Dorsey drafts an end at some point in this draft, because when Vernon is a free agent we will pay Garrett. $20 million off the books from Vernon that'll go directly to Garrett in his next contract. Whoever he drafts/Chad Thomas replaces Vernon in two years.
He learned from his cap trouble in Kansas City. That's what this move shows me.