Kevin Zeitler
refer to caption
Zeitler with the Bengals in 2016
No. 70 – Baltimore Ravens
Position:Guard
Personal information
Born: (1990-03-08) March 8, 1990
Waukesha, Wisconsin, U.S.
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:339 lb (154 kg)
Career information
High school:Wisconsin Lutheran
(Milwaukee, Wisconsin)
College:Wisconsin (2008–2011)
NFL Draft:2012 / Round: 1 / Pick: 27
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Games played:182
Games started:181
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Kevin Zeitler (/ˈzaɪtlər/ ZYTE-lər; born March 8, 1990) is an American football guard for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Wisconsin, and earned consensus All-American honors. He was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft and he has also played for the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants.

Early years

Zeitler was born in Waukesha, Wisconsin. He attended Wisconsin Lutheran High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and played for Wisconsin Lutheran Vikings high school football team. A three-year letterwinner in football, Zeitler was honored first-team all-conference, first-team all region and second-team all-area as a junior. In his senior year, he gathered first-team all-conference, conference lineman of the year, first-team all region, and first-team all-area honors.

Regarded as a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, Zeitler was ranked the No. 39 offensive guard prospect in his class.[1] Coincidentally, the No. 1 offensive guard in this class was Trevor Robinson, who would later play alongside Zeitler for the Cincinnati Bengals. Having numerous offers, Zeitler narrowed his decision down to Wisconsin and Michigan,[2] before eventually picking the Badgers.[3]

College career

Zeitler attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and played for the Wisconsin Badgers football team from 2008 to 2011. He was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American, having been named to the first-teams of the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), the Associated Press and Pro Football Weekly as a senior in 2011.[4] Zeitler joined teammates Montee Ball and Peter Konz as AFCA All-Americans.

Professional career

Pre-draft

Even though "not a nifty or nimble lineman", Zeitler was described as "a solid prospect with the ability to be used in a power running offense".[5] Projected to be a second round selection, Zeitler was ranked No. 4 among guards available in the 2012 NFL Draft by Sports Illustrated.[6]

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
6 ft 3+7⁄8 in
(1.93 m)		 314 lb
(142 kg)		 32+3⁄4 in
(0.83 m)		 10+1⁄4 in
(0.26 m)		5.39 s1.81 s3.09 s4.61 s7.77 s29 in
(0.74 m)		8 ft 5 in
(2.57 m)		32 reps
All values from NFL Combine[7][8]

Cincinnati Bengals

Zeitler expected to be a second-rounder, having scheduled a draft-party for Day 2 of the Draft, before being surprised by the Cincinnati Bengals' late first-round selection.[9][10] Zeitler was the eighth UW offensive lineman taken in the first round of an NFL draft since 1976, after Dennis Lick, Ray Snell, Paul Gruber, Aaron Gibson, Chris McIntosh, Joe Thomas, and Gabe Carimi.

In his rookie season, Zeitler started all 16 games at right guard for the Bengals. He gave up only four sacks all season, and graded highest among Bengals linemen.[11]

In his five seasons with the Bengals, Zeitler started 71 of 72 games played at right guard.

Cleveland Browns

Zeitler with the Browns in 2017

On March 9, 2017, Zeitler signed a five-year, $60 million contract with the Cleveland Browns, making him the highest paid guard in the NFL.[12]

New York Giants

On March 13, 2019, the Browns traded Zeitler and Jabrill Peppers to the New York Giants, along with their first and third-round (originally acquired from the New England Patriots) picks in the 2019 NFL Draft, in exchange for Odell Beckham Jr. and Olivier Vernon.[13]

On March 10, 2021, the Giants released Zeitler.[14]

Baltimore Ravens

Zeitler signed a three-year $22.5 million contract with the Baltimore Ravens on March 18, 2021.[15] He had the most fan votes among American Football Conference guards but was not named to the 2023 Pro Bowl AFC roster.[16]

NFL career statistics

YearTeamGPGS
2012CIN 1616
2013CIN 1312
2014CIN 1212
2015CIN 1616
2016CIN 1616
2017CLE 1616
2018CLE 1616
2019NYG 1515
2020NYG 1616
2021BAL 1717
2022BAL 1515
2023BAL 1515
Career182181

References

  1. ↑ "Yahoo Sports: Rivals.com Ranking - Rivals.com offensive guards 2008". Yahoo! Sports. January 17, 2008. Retrieved January 3, 2016.
  2. ↑ Spath, Michael (June 22, 2007). "With new offer, Zeitler tweaks favorites". footballrecruiting.rivals.com. Retrieved January 3, 2016.
  3. ↑ Day, Paul (June 27, 2007). "Zeitler decides". footballrecruiting.rivals.com. Retrieved January 3, 2016.
  4. ↑ "AFCA Announces 2011 FBS Coaches' All-America Team". American Football Coaches Association. Archived from the original on December 7, 2011. Retrieved January 3, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Kevin Zeitler — 2012 NFL Draft". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on May 12, 2012. Retrieved January 3, 2016.
  6. ↑ "2012 NFL Draft — Positions — G". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on May 13, 2014. Retrieved January 3, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Kevin Zeitler Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  8. ↑ "2012 NFL Draft Scout Kevin Zeitler College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  9. ↑ "2012 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  10. ↑ "First-round call catches UW's Zeitler off guard". Green Bay Press-Gazette. April 27, 2012.
  11. ↑ Garrison, Jason (March 1, 2013). "Bengals Had The Second Best Interior Offensive Line In AFC North". Cincy Jungle. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
  12. ↑ Sessler, Marc (March 9, 2017). "Browns sign Kevin Zeitler to 5-year, $60M deal". NFL.com.
  13. ↑ Eisen, Michael (March 13, 2019). "Jabrill Peppers, Kevin Zeitler, two draft picks acquired from Browns, pending physicals". Giants.com.
  14. ↑ Eisen, Michael (March 10, 2021). "Giants release veteran guard Kevin Zeitler". Giants.com. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  15. ↑ Stevens, Matthew (March 18, 2021). "Baltimore Ravens make Kevin Zeitler deal official". ravenswire.usatoday.com.
  16. ↑ Brown, Clifton. "Kevin Zeitler Snubbed From Pro Bowl Again," BaltimoreRavens.com, Wednesday, December 21, 2022. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
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