Maybe it’s time for the Green Bay-to-Cleveland pipeline to flow in the opposite direction for once.
Linebacker Jamie Collins, who was released by the Browns Wednesday, and guard Kevin Zeitler, a potential trade target, could both help the Packers at the right price.
Collins, 29, is a plus athlete who just produced 104 tackles and four sacks for the Browns in 2018. He’s a versatile chess piece in the front seven and has experience playing a hybrid role from his days in New England. Packers defensive coordinator Mike Pettine might view Collins as a player who could play all three downs next to inside linebacker Blake Martinez, blitz effectively from multiple angles and even play some on the edge in certain packages.
Zeitler, however, could be the real prize for the Packers.
A Wisconsin native and a former Badger, Zeitler has developed into one of the NFL’s most effective and reliable guards. Last season, he ranked as the sixth-best guard in the NFL overall and the No. 1 pass-blocking guard at Pro Football Focus.
It appears the Browns are ready to move on after drafting Austin Corbett, potentially due to Zeitler’s massive contract.
However, a team dealing for Zeitler would inherit a much easier situation financially. If traded, the Browns would take on Zeitler’s remaining pro-rated signing bonus, leaving him with non-guaranteed cap hits of $10 million in 2019, $10 million in 2020 and $12 million in 2021.
In the event Zeitler is released, the Packers should be aggressive in convincing him to come home and play in Green Bay.
The Packers’ need for better guard play is well documented. The passing game was often crippled in 2018 due to pass protection issues inside, and the Packers don’t have a sure-fire starter at right guard entering the offseason.
Adding Zeitler would fix the problem at guard and immediately solidify the offensive line, providing the potential for the Packers to field one of the game’s best starting fives in front of Aaron Rodgers in 2019. Going from Byron Bell to Zeitler would create real, meaningful impact right away.
The Packers have provided John Dorsey and the Browns with a handful of talented players recently, but it’s possible Dorsey could return the favor this offseason. Collins could thrive in a hybrid role for Pettine, and Zeitler would solve a major problem in a major way. Both options are worth exploring in full for Packers GM Brian Gutekunst.
