One year ago today, on March 8th, 2019, the Cleveland Browns made their first big trade of the offseason with the New York Giants. A day after dumping veteran LB Jamie Collins, the Browns dealt away longtime starting right guard Kevin Zeitler to the Giants for EDGE Olivier Vernon.
One year later, it’s not a trade many in Cleveland would make again.
Vernon struggled with injuries in his first Browns season. He played in just 10 games, registering 3.5 sacks and a career-low 26 tackles with his new team. While Vernon played better than the raw statistics would indicate, he did not have the anticipated impact on the Browns’ defense.
Zeitler was his typical solid self in his first season in New York. Starting 15 games for a rejuvenated OL, Zeitler allowed three sacks and 16 QB pressures according to Pro Football Focus grading. He did register his highest overall season grade since 2016, his last year with the Cincinnati Bengals before joining the Browns. His replacements in Cleveland, which included Wyatt Teller and Eric Kush, scored considerably lower in PFF’s grades.
Technically the trade did not go down until the new league year began, but the 8th was the date of the announced agreement to make it happen. It was quickly overshadowed by the blockbuster Odell Beckham Jr. trade, a deal that the Giants allegedly “laughed at” before making this trade involving Zeitler and Vernon.