Pro Football Focus Says Browns Gave Overrated Deal To Kevin Zeilter

One Pro Football Focus writer suggests that new Cleveland Browns guard Kevin Z has one of the most overrated contracts given this offseason.

Analytics can mean different things to different people, and Kevin Zeitler‘s new contract is coming under scrutiny by the Browns supposed Bible, Pro Football Focus.

Zelter grades out extremely well on the website, but the problem PFF writer Sam Monson has with the the contract is the amount it money Cleveland spent to lure the guard out of Cincinnati.

In an article special for ESPN.com (subscription required), Monson analyzed some of the “overrated” contracts given to free-agents this offseason.

Here’s how he described his approach:

"It’s time to look at some of the most underrated and overrated deals made throughout the league so far, based largely on Pro Football Focus’ grades and statistical analysis but with some subjective context applied to account for things like age and injury history."

He believes Zeitler, who signed a five-year, $60 million contract ($31.5 million guaranteed), inked the fourth-ranked overrated deal on the market. Manson wrote that Dre Kirkpatrick‘s, Rick Wagner’s and Nick Foles‘ contracts were more overrated.

"Zeitler is an excellent player who has been consistently good over his NFL career, but the issue with his long-term contract in Cleveland is that the Browns’ guard play was already pretty good. They re-signed Joel Bitonio to a big extension, which leaves John Greco the odd man out, but Greco allowed just 24 total QB pressures last season and had four perfect games of pass protection while run blocking well inside. The Browns have likely upgraded, but it is a lot to pay — $31.5 million guaranteed — for what might prove to be a marginal boost at the position."

When the Browns brought Paul DePodesta on as their chief strategy officer, the expectation was that a key part of Cleveland’s analytical approach was the organization would try to find low-cost players who could produce at the same level of their high-paid counterparts.

Just look at how the organization handled Terrelle Pryor recent contract. DePodesta had a price in his mind of what the Browns were going to pay Pryor, but the receiver wanted more. Pryor tested the market, and the Browns gave his $8 million per season to someone else with almost identical numbers in Kenny Britt.

However, as we’re finding out, it’s a risky proposition to let analytics make all the shots in your organization. Many Browns fans are still wonder how the data affected Carson Wentz in the 2015 NFL Draft. The North Dakota State prospect had just 612 career passing attempts at South Dakota State. Analytical oriented front offices probably didn’t like this stat because there wasn’t a whole lot there to analyze.

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But when it comes to Zeitler, the analytical perspective isn’t taking into account that Joel Bitonio and John Greco are both coming off major foot surgeries. No one needs to crunch the numbers to know that working feet are kind of a big deal for 300-pound offensive linemen. It was actually surprising to see the Browns extend Bitonio, who is recovering from foot surgery.

But then there’s the on-field stuff. Zeilter, 27, in the early part of his prime. He is almost an elite pass blocker and he’s a great run blocker. He rated as PFF’s seventh rated guard during the 2016 campaign. Greco, 31, was 20th. The Boadman, Ohio native is very good, but now that Zeitler’s on board, the Browns have a very, very good backup who can play guard and center.

If you still think the Browns were a little overzealous is doling out money to Zeilter, don’t forget Cleveland had the money to spend.

Cleveland entered free agency with over $100 million to lure free agents. After giving out contracts to Zeilter, J.C. Tretter, and Kenny Britt, extending Bitonio and taking on Brock Osweiler‘s $16 million sum in 2017, the Browns still have the ninth most cap space in the league, with just a tad over $61 million in space, according to the Bleacher Report.

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Pro Football Focus Writer Sys Cleveland Browns Gave Overrated Deal To Kevin Zeitler

By Nick Dudukovich | Mar 18, 2017

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