Cleveland Browns: Collins, Zeitler’s contracts knocked by ESPN
By Randy Gurzi
Linebacker Jamie Collins contract with the Cleveland Browns keeps getting knocked and now ESPN’s Bill Barnwell is pointing at guard Kevin Zeitler’s salary as well
First Sporting News called out the contract that linebacker Jamie Collins has with the Cleveland Browns and now ESPN is getting in on the fun.
Analyst Bill Barnwell recently looked at the most bloated contracts in the league and Collins was in his top 20. He wasn’t the only Cleveland player to make the list though as guard Kevin Zeitler also had his deal picked on.
To compile this list, Barnwell compared players to the top 20 at their position and then rated them by how high they were above the baseline. Collins came in at No. 15 which was 33.1 percent above the baseline and Zeitler was 34.9 percent over which made him the No. 11 oversized contract.
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When discussing the deals these players got, he called Collins’ over-payment an “incompetence tax” and said players at his position — strong side linebacker — don’t usually break the bank. For Zeitler, he was more complimentary of the player and his work:
"“The Browns attempted to rebuild their offense around an expensively assembled line last offseason by signing Zeitler — who hadn’t made a Pro Bowl during his five-year career — to a five-year, $60 million deal. The Bengals certainly missed their former first-round pick as their line collapsed last season, but Zeitler wasn’t able to propel the Cleveland offense forward on his own. The Browns were the league’s fourth-best rushing attack in power situations, which suggests the duo of Zeitler and Joel Bitonio were able to carve out running lanes when the other team knew a run was coming.” — Barnwell, ESPN"
Barnwell is correct that the interior of the Browns line is incredibly strong. They may have questions on the outside with tackle Joe Thomas retiring, but the three spots inside are good to go.
As for Zeitler, yes he was overpaid, but that’s usually what happens in free agency. The good news for him is that he does at least give them a competent player and there’s little threat of him not finishing out his contract with Cleveland.
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Collins, on the other hand, his deal deserves the criticism. He was overpaid and there is some belief he won’t complete his deal. Linebacker happens to be the strongest position on the team currently, so shaving his mammoth deal makes sense.