The Cincinnati Bengals were interested in a reunion with former first-round pick Kevin Zeitler during free agency before the veteran signed with the Baltimore Ravens.
Tyler Dragon of the Cincinnati Enquirer reported the Bengals made an attempt, but that the offer “wasn’t near” the money Zeitler got in Baltimore.
Zeitler landed a three-year deal worth $22 million to join the Ravens.
It’s a notable miss for the Bengals, as letting Zeitler go was one of the major missteps that led to the team being in this position in the first place. Both guard spots are issues and the team has since missed on major free agents like Joe Thuney.
In a way, the Bengals getting Zeitler back would have been poetic and an admission of the problematic roster-building lately. But Zeitler was apparently out of their price range, so now they will instead have to face him twice a year in the AFC North.
