PFF predicts Vikings will land G Kevin Zeitler in free agency

The Giants surprisingly released the guard earlier this offseason.

Even before the Vikings released tackle Riley Reiff, they needed some help not the offensive line.

Over at Pro Football Focus, Anthony Treash does his best to predict where free agents will sign.

Treash has the Vikings landing guard Kevin Zeitler, who was recently released by the Giants.

Here’s what Treash wrote about the fit:

Giants general manager Dave Gettleman handed Vikings general manager Rick Spielman a gift in the form of Zeitler’s release. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Minnesota open up cap space to sign a guard of Zeitler’s caliber. The position was a liability for the team in 2020, with the team’s guards combining for a 37.2 pass-blocking grade — over five grading points worse than any other NFL team.

Zeitler is clearly not nearly as strong of a player as he once was in Cincinnati and Cleveland, but he would be a significant upgrade for the Vikings. He has generated the 15th-most WAR by a guard over the past two seasons and ranks eighth among right guards in PFF grade over that same span.

Zeitler, 31, would be a big boost to this offensive line. He spent the last two years of his career with the Giants after suiting up for both the Bengals and Browns.

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer is familiar with Zeitler. Zimmer was the defensive coordinator with the Bengals when Zeitler was there in 2012 and 2013.