Cleveland Browns: 4 Impacts Olivier Vernon trade has on Browns

Five impacts the Cleveland Browns trade of Kevin Zeitler for Olivier Vernon will on the 2019 season, the draft, and the depth chart.

The Cleveland Browns made a trade with the New York Giants, but not the deal you’re thinking of, for Odell Beckham.

Instead, general manager John Dorsey dealt right guard Kevin Zeitler and the 155th pick in the draft to New York for EDGE Olivier Vernon and the 132nd overall selection.

Vernon comes to the Browns coming off a Pro Bowl season, in which he only played 11 games after missing some time with high-ankle sprain.

In losing Zeitler, the Browns are losing a very good player on the offensive line. Zeitler ranked as PFF’s sixth-graded guard a season ago.

Zeitler was entering the third year of a five-year, $60 million pact he signed in March of 2017.

Conversely, the Giants  signed Vernon to a five-year, $85 million contract ($52.5 million guaranteed) in 2016.  In taking him on now, the Browns have Vernon under contract for two years. The contract has $31 million remaining and Vernon’s base salary will be $15.25 million in 2019, and he also will earn a $250,000 workout bonus.

Some mid-round picks were swapped, but mostly, this was a rare player-for-player swap. Here’s five impacts it will have on the Browns for the upcoming season.

Also note that this trade has been agreed to in principle. It can’t become unofficial until the new league starts March 13 at 4 p.m.