Bengals guard Zeitler expected to fetch $10-12 million per year

BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 27: Guard Kevin Zeitler #68 of the Cincinnati Bengals and running back Giovani Bernard #25 of the Cincinnati Bengals stand at the line of scrimmage in the second quarter of a game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on September 27, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 27: Guard Kevin Zeitler #68 of the Cincinnati Bengals and running back Giovani Bernard #25 of the Cincinnati Bengals stand at the line of scrimmage in the second quarter of a game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on September 27, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

NFL free agency begins Thursday, and multiple reports indicate the target for Cincinnati Bengals right guard Kevin Zeitler to be in the range of $10-12 million per year.

At least one person close to Zeitler, his wife Sara, appears excited about the prospects of testing the market:

Chances are slim the Bengals will be able to re-sign the 2012 first-round pick with starting left tackle Andrew Whitworth and starting cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick also expected to draw interest in that same salary range.

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Zeitler made $8.1 million in 2016 after the Bengals picked up his fifth-year option.

He played all 1,087 snaps in 2016 and has started 40 consecutive games and 71 overall since the Bengals selected him with the 27th overall pick in 2012.

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The legal tampering period begins at 4 p.m. Tuesday and runs through 4 p.m. Thursday, when the new league officially begins.

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