Giants trade LB Olivier Vernon to Browns for G Kevin Zeitler

Giants also deal fourth-rounder, receive fifth-rounder

3/8/2019, 4:43 PM
Olivier Vernon (54) Mandatory Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com via USA TODAY NETWORK / Danielle Parhizkaran
Olivier Vernon (54) Mandatory Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com via USA TODAY NETWORK / Danielle Parhizkaran

The Giants traded linebacker Olivier Vernon to the Browns in exchange for offensive guard Kevin Zeitler on Friday, SNY.tv's Ralph Vacchiano confirmed.

New York ultimately clears $1.5 million of cap space in the trade. Zeitler, who is entering the third year of a five-year, $60 million deal, carries cap hits of $10 million this season and in 2020, and $12 million in 2021.

Vernon, meanwhile, is entering the fourth year of a five-year, $85 million deal. The Giants are responsible for $8 million in dead money even though Vernon carries cap hits of $19.5 million in 2019 and 2020. Cleveland is on the hook for $15.25 million of Vernon's salary.

The Giants also dealt a fourth-round pick (132nd overall) and received a fifth-rounder (155th overall).

Vernon, 28, earned his first Pro Bowl spot last season, recording seven sacks, 30 combined tackles and one forced fumble in a career-low 11 games for New York.

Zeitler, 29, was Pro Football Focus' sixth-ranked offensive guard last season. He has appeared in 16 games in each of the past four seasons.

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