2024 NFL Draft: Cleveland Browns pick OG Zak Zinter at No. 85

Cleveland adds a guard from Ohio State’s rival.

With the 85th pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns selected OG Zak Zinter (6-6, 322 lbs) from Michigan. He is the Browns’ second Day 2 pick, having been selected in the third round. The Browns selected DT Michael Hall earlier in the evening with the 54th overall pick — so it’s pretty funny how the team went back-to-back with Ohio State and Michigan players.

Scouting Reports

Here is a scouting report from The Athletic’s Dane Brugler, who had Zinter as his 10th-ranked offensive guard on his board and a projected 4th-round pick:

A four-year starter at Michigan, Zinter was entrenched as the starting right guard in former head coach Jim Harbaugh’s power-spread offense. A three-time All-Big Ten honoree, he played well as a senior (zero sacks allowed, zero penalties) until his broken leg against Ohio State, which unfortunately sidelined him for the entire draft process. An assignment-sound run blocker, Zinter uses body strength and proper positioning to lean on defenders and drive them with churning legs. While he is strong at the point of attack to stand up rushers in pass protection, he struggles to recover versus quickness in one -on-one matchups. Overall, Zinter won’t impress with explosion or leverage, but he is big, smart and physical, which allows him to control defenders, especially in closed quarters. He can have a Mark Glowinski type of NFL career, although his leg injury puts a discount sticker on his draft projection.

How He Fits the Browns

Cleveland is pretty well set at guard with Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller, but they have been needing to find some more depth at offensive guard with having relied on Michael Dunn for years, and seeing Nick Harris depart this offseason. Zinter broke his tibia and fibula in Michigan’s win over the Buckeyes last year, but that wasn’t much of a concern for his draft stock.

React Now

What do you think, Browns fans?