Browns Free Agents: 6 Free Agents The Cleveland Browns Should Target

Kevin Zeitler, G. Cincinnati Bengals

There’s a growing belief in Cincinnati that Kevin Zeilter won’t be back in 2017.

“I continue to feel confident Kevin Zeitler will be playing elsewhere in 2017. When Bengals free agency comes up, it always starts with Andrew Whitworth and usually skips over the 26-year-old guard. Rightfully so for Whitworth, who plays at a premium position and lives at the heart of the Bengals leadership group. As teams watch the Alex Mack acquisition at center help catapult the Falcons offense they’ll look to interior linemen on the market to do the same and Zeitler might be the No. 1 guard available. He’s about to break the bank…We’ll see as free agency ramps up next month, but we put a 45 percent chance on his return in our free agent piece when the season ended and I’d drop it to 30 today,” The Cincinnati Enquirer’s Paul Dehner wrote.

As our own Ryan Rosko wrote, Zeitler’s market value is projected to be $11.6 million.

The Browns have Joel Bitonio and John Greco on the roster, but their futures are anything but certain.

In theory, Bitonio should be ready to play. He had lisfranc surgery last season. Foot operations on big heavy lineman can be a scary equation, though.

Greco went on Injured Reserve in November with a foot sprain.

But players finished the 2015 and 2016 seasons on the injured reserve.

Bitonio is young enough to keep trying, but Zeitler would be a huge upgrade over Greco.

Erving, who was a bust a center, will likely get some looks at right tackle entering the 2017 campaign. Greco would be a better choice to use as as “swing man,” filling in on different parts of the line.