The Giants are trading Olivier Vernon to the Browns, according to Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). In return, the Giants will receive guard Kevin Zeitler (Twitter link). The Giants had originally agreed to send the No. 132 pick to Cleveland, with the Browns shipping No. 155 back to New York, but the two side have since canceled that portion of the swap.
The deal gives the Browns a formidable defensive end combo between Vernon and Myles Garrett. The swap also allows the Browns to focus on other areas of need next week, rather than overpaying for valued edge rushers.
Vernon inked a massive five-year, $85MM deal with the Giants in 2016. A few years later, the Giants found themselves looking to unload him or potentially release him outright. Vernon is still productive, but he no longer profiles as one of the best edge rushers in the NFL. Even at his time of signing, his contract was a function of an inflated pass rushing market that continues to be player friendly.
Vernon is due $15.5MM in each of the two remaining years on his deal. The Browns had roughly $77MM in cap space entering Friday, but it’s not immediately clear whether the Giants will be chipping in towards what Vernon is owed. Such an arrangement is not unheard of. In the Case Keenum trade between the Broncos and Redskins, for example, the Broncos agreed to pay half of Keenum’s 2019 salary.
Vernon, 28, gave the Giants a career-high 8.5 sacks in his first season with the club. He’s continued to get to the QB with 22 sacks over the course of three years, but injuries have cost him nine games over the last two campaigns. Last year, he averaged four pressures per contest in eleven games.
The Giants, meanwhile, pick up one of the league’s best interior lineman in the trade. Zeitler was Pro Football Focus’ No. 6 ranked guard last season and is midway through a five-year, $60MM deal. The 29-year-old is set to make $10MM this season, though much of that hit will be absorbed by the Browns.
Great move by the Browns!!
Not so clear cut as at first. They traded Zeitler for him…
They didn’t draft Corbett in 2nd last year for him to sit again…..
Not every pick works out… You’d think a browns fan would know that 🙂
Zeitler is one of the top guards in the league and traded for a decent pass rusher.
Not a blatabtly bad move, just a bit of head scratcher.
I disagree. I would rather have an above average DE than a good (non-pro bowler) guard. Especially when the browns think they have a cheaper replacement already on the roster. I believe he was pick 33 overall and based on Dorsey’s last draft, I bet he’s good. Ogbah needed to be replaced. He just wasn’t getting the job done.
I like it for the Giants
How do you figure? Vernon cant stay on the field
Browns have everything in place. Looking to make a huge playoff run..
So of course they’ll finish last in the division this year. It’s the Browns.
And this kind of ignorance still prevails.
Well the browns kind of have to do something BESIDES being a laughing stock before they can get any kind of credit
Your Wrong!
Gonna be so funny when I’m right.
Will you delete your account and never come back when you’re not?
This.
Of course he won’t delete it. He’ll Come back with some other nonsense to deflect from how wrong he was. Right now he’s projecting b/c of the dumpster fire he’s witnessing Pittsburgh.
Dumpster fire? By finishing better than the Browns even with the issues faced ?
Lolololol… Steelers are hype AB & Bell are gone.
Both are losers just like the Browns..
We like winners here.
And the issues werent even AB or Bell .. it was Boswell being worst kicker in the nfl
Typical uneducated football fan….blaming the kicker….the Steelers are on their way down….get used to those 6-10, 7-9 seasons
Then what’s their excuse for you?
You like winners in Pittsburgh? Then why is Ben still there what has he won since 09?
Best part is Pittsburgh has as many championships as Cleveland in last 5 years….
But But But…. Ben has TWO rings! LOL!
The best part is the Browns haven’t made the playoffs in the past 20++++++ years .
Hahaha
2002 they made it…..I know, math is hard.
Big w
O
W
I’m not the one who said “20+++++ years” cupcake.
Personally, I’d probably rather have Zeitler; moving him opens up a spot for Corbett to play inside, so if he’s ready then it’s a good move but I’m not fully convinced he is.
Either way, Vernon could definitely have a good year with opposing lines focused on Garrett and Ogunjobi. So I definitely don’t hate the move by any means.
^^^This. Spot on assessment.
Good move for both
They prob could’ve took on Oliver’s salary for a 5th round pick…
Browns got swindled hard.
You clearly have no idea what you are talking about….they wanted to move Zeitler and go with the guy they drafted in the 2nd round last year…..so getting another pass rusher was a move that made sense to them…..stick to Madden slugger.
I really don’t like the move Zietler is a really good guard. I get they have Corbett but can they really trust this guy to have similar production. They have all the cap space they need I would have much rather given up a pick for Vernon
I don’t agree by trading zeitler away, but Vernon is a good veteran pass rusher, which the team needs to stop the run
Definitely a sign in which direction the Browns will not be using their top draft picks. Go bookend best CB on the board.
Vernon most likely will play OLB, so I still see them going DL at #17 (if they don’t trade that pick).
Why do you think he’ll play OLB?
He playes OLB last year, at least that’s what Pro Football Reference has him listed as.
I just checked, and he’s listed as a DE.
Click on link in article and scroll down to this past season, was listed as LB. doesn’t matter though, as long as he’s on the field and gets to QB.
That’s because Shurmur switched the defense from a 4-3 base to a blitzing 3-4.
Makes sense….I still shudder at the mention on Pat Shurmur….
Absolutely.
When dumb browns fans don’t understand that a 4-3 DE is also a 3-4 OLB…
Tisk tisk,
This is like beginner level stuff…
Thanks for the laugh.
Typical Steeler fan doesn’t know the difference between a Linebacker and Defensive End…..one had their hand on ground one stands up….middle school stuff, but most Steeler fans didn’t get past Middle School so no surprise.
Hahahaha…..BAM!
You clearly have no idea what you are talking about…..stick to Madden
Vernon is a 4-3 DE. He will not be playing OLB
That’s up to the coaches….he was listed as a LB last year. I don’t care where he lines up, as long as he gets to the QB, who cares.
Vernon is an edge rusher. He was a lb in a 3-4 defense, not an off ball lb like a 4-3 defense would have. Different scheme, different position.
Zeitler is simply better at his position st this point in his career than Vernon is at his. I’m not liking this move for the Browns.
A++++ for the Giants
C+ for the Browns
F- for TheTruth12.
Lmaooooo so salty they traded one of the best guards for an overpaid pass rusher how is that a good deal for the Browns at all? Opens room for Corbett to start but it’s still an L for the Browns
How is it a ‘L’ for the Browns if they wanted to give the starting RG spot to Corbett? They had a need to add another guy who can rush the QB and they got him, and it cleared the spot for the guy they drafted in 2nd round last year. They coaches and front office clearly know a lot more than any of us (especially
jkoms57)…..so we won’t know if this trade will be work out or not until this upcoming season. On paper, sure it looks like a bad move….but Dorsey has a good track record.
Amazing deal for the Giants. I am PUMPED. Let’s go Big Blue! Prove my username wrong!
Let’s go browns!!