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Report: Browns to sign Zeitler, make him highest-paid guard in NFL history

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The Cleveland Browns are expected to sign free-agent offensive lineman Kevin Zeitler, closing the deal by making him the highest-paid guard in NFL history, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.

Zeitler, who spent the first five years of his career with the Cincinnati Bengals, will reportedly receive a five-year contract worth $60 million, including $31.5 million in guarantees.

The 27-year-old's megadeal resets the market for interior linemen by surpassing the contract Kelechi Osemele landed with the Oakland Raiders last offseason.

Cleveland has now used its influx in salary-cap space to make three major additions to the offensive line at the outset of free agency, as the Zeitler acquisition follows the reported addition of center JC Tretter and extension for guard Joel Bitonio.

For Cincinnati, losing Zeitler to the division-rival Browns is already a second loss for what was once one of the league's most dominant offensive lines. With Andrew Whitworth reportedly set to join the Los Angeles Rams, the Bengals will head into 2017 having lost a pair of starters up front.

Zeitler started 71 games for Cincinnati after being selected in the first round of the 2012 draft.

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