Browns selected Michigan OG Zak Zinter with the No. 85 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

27 April 2024

A career-long right guard, Zinter’s 2.5% pressure rate in 2021 contributed to his middling 66.1 PFF overall grade for the resurgent 12-2 Wolverines. He took a leap in his development in 2022 as a key cog in UM’s Joe Moore Award winning offensive line, cutting his pressures allowed from 16-to-9 despite defending 52 more pass reps. Last year Zinter was on the way to a storybook final season, earning Unanimous First Team All-American recognition while allowing one sack and just five pressures all season with a sensational 99.7% run block success rate. Then fate struck with Zinter breaking his tibia and fibula in the final game of the regular season against Ohio State, costing him the ability to be on the field as Michigan finished out their undefeated National Championship run. He measured in at 6’057/309 with 33.5” arms at the Combine, but was obviously unable to perform drills or testing due to his leg injury. His long, well-proportioned frame generates torque and puts a charge into his strikes to knock blitzers off their rush path. A high IQ player and three-time Academic All-Big Ten awardee, Zinter is in tune with his responsibilities and has a penchant for cracking free rushers with well-timed punches that put an instant end to their rep. With some time to hone his game, Zinter should develop into a starter in the coming years.