The New York Giants have agreed to a trade that will send outside linebacker Olivier Vernon to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for right guard Kevin Zeitler, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Friday.
Vernon led the Giants last season with 7 sacks and 21 quarterback hits in 11 games. That was more than twice as many quarterback hits as any other player on the team. He played linebacker in the Giants’ 3-4 defensive scheme last season, but has played at defensive end in a 4-3 package.
He is scheduled to make $15.5 million this season. His current deal with the Giants had two years and $31 million remaining. Trading Vernon will save the Giants $11.5 million against the cap and leaves them with an $8 million dead money cap hit as well.
Injuries have been Vernon’s biggest problem since signing a five-year, $84.75 million deal as the Giants’ prized free agent in the 2016 offseason. He has missed nine games the past two seasons with various injuries. He didn’t miss a game during his first five years in the league.
Vernon, 28, spent the first four years of his career with the Miami Dolphins and has 51 career sacks in 103 games.
ESPN’s Jordan Raanan contributed to this report.