Former Bengals first-round pick Kevin Zeitler earns long overdue first career Pro Bowl nod
Replacements for the 2024 NFL Pro Bowl Games feature no additional Cincinnati Bengals joining Ja'Marr Chase and Trey Hendrickson, but a former first-round pick of the franchise will be with them in Orlando, FL.Baltimore Ravens right guard Kevin Zeitler, the Bengals' 27th overall pick from the 2012 NFL Draft, has made his first Pro Bowl […]
Replacements for the 2024 NFL Pro Bowl Games feature no additional Cincinnati Bengals joining Ja'Marr Chase and Trey Hendrickson, but a former first-round pick of the franchise will be with them in Orlando, FL.
Baltimore Ravens right guard Kevin Zeitler, the Bengals' 27th overall pick from the 2012 NFL Draft, has made his first Pro Bowl after wrapping up his 12th year in the league.
Before spending the last three seasons in Baltimore and previous stints with the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants, Zeitler was a five-year starter for the Bengals at right guard, the same spot he held down for three years at the offensive lineman factory known as Wisconsin.
Right out the gate, Zeitler was one of the team's best linemen, and soon became one of the offense's best players, period. He was a staple of consistency during the early years of A.J. Green and Andy Dalton leading the charge under two innovative offensive coordinators Jay Gruden and Hue Jackson.
Despite becoming everything the team drafted him to be, the Bengals infamously displayed zero interest in re-signing Zeitler following the 2016 season. Call it sheer coincidence, but the Bengals' offensive line has been a work in progress ever since. The "worst" season
Zeitler's ongoing 12-year run of incredible consistency makes him not only one of the best draft picks the Bengals have made in recent memory, but also one of the biggest fumbles. The "worst" season he's ever had featured a Pro Football Focus pass blocking grade of 68.7 and a pass blocking efficiency score of 97.4.
Cincinnati opting to not even compete for his services following his rookie contract proved to be much more costly than simply, well, paying for his services.
All of that is water under the bridge now with Alex Cappa proving to be whom the Bengals paid him to be two years ago at Zeitler's former place. Zeitler is turning 34 in March and is scheduled to become a free agent.
A reunion in Cincinnati isn't likely, but it's simply great to see the NFL finally recognizing Zeitler as the Pro Bowl-caliber guard he's been all the way back to his days in the Queen City.
Bengals’ Ja’Marr Chase, Trey Hendrickson earn third-straight Pro Bowl nods
Two more Bengals are alternates as well.
