MARCH 19: Zeitler agreed to a one-year, $6MM deal, The33rdTeam.com’s Ari Meirov tweets. Although the Ravens had begun discussions with Zeitler about a return for a fourth Baltimore season, the veteran guard is headed to Detroit. Following Jackson’s Rams defection, Zeitler and Glasgow will form an affordable tandem — comprised of two 30-somethings — at the position.
MARCH 18: The Lions have found their replacement for Jonah Jackson. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Lions are signing veteran guard Kevin Zeitler.
[RELATED: Rams, G Jonah Jackson Agree To Deal]
The lineman will be inking a one-year deal with Detroit. Zeitler is flying to Detroit tonight to take his physical before officially signing with the Lions tomorrow.
The 12-year veteran earned his first career Pro Bowl nod in 2023 after starting 15 games for Baltimore. He graded out as Pro Football Focus’ 15th-best offensive guard last season, with Zeitler earning the second-highest grade at his position for pass blocking.
The 34-year-old is coming off a three-year stint with the Ravens that saw him start all 47 of his appearances. The former first-round pick spent the first five seasons of his career with the Bengals before his two-year stints with the Browns and Giants.
The Lions re-signed right guard Graham Glasgow last week, but Justin Rogers of The Detroit News believes Glasgow will likely shift to the left side of the line following Zeitler’s addition. After losing Jackson to the Rams, the Lions have been seeking a fifth starting lineman to play besides Glasgow, center Frank Ragnow, and tackles Penei Sewell and Taylor Decker.
As ESPN’s Jamison Hensley notes, Zeitler marks the 10th player the Ravens have lost via free agency. That grouping includes fellow OL John Simpson who signed with the Jets, and the Ravens also dealt Morgan Moses to New York, meaning Baltimore will be eyeing a new-look offensive line grouping in 2024.
Great move. Still seems likely they grab a guard in the draft at some point (Christian Mahogany sure seems like a Campbell guy), but this means they don’t have to go into the draft worried about it.
Def still need backup plan for Ragnow. We know that man is a monster, but we also know we can’t expect him to play a full season; just too many injuries that are never gonna fully heal on that body.
Awesome signing by Holmes and Company! Solidifies the OL for 2024 and allows them to draft the BPA for either Edge, OL or CB in their first 3 rounds. Very excited for the season to start
Watching this cat hit 3 potential tacklers on one play is all I need to see. Great pick up.
Zeitler is surprisingly durable for a journeyman and certainly worth adding as a one year rental. There aren’t a lot of good options for teams needing OL help via the free agent market so Lions fans should be okay with this.
Perhaps you’re using the term “journeyman” to describe Zeitler because he’s been on 5 teams now, but he’s been a very reliable, high quality player and starter since the beginning of his career. The Browns signed him as a free agent from Cincinnati and when he was included in the unfortunate OBJ trade, and it was a bad idea. I’m surprised to read he’s only been to one Pro Bowl. He’s much, much better than average.
The Lions obv will have to plan for the future on the Oline, but strictly for 2024 (assuming health) the Oline is actually BETTER
The value of JJ vs KZ is Jonah’s age, of course, but that is offset now that he’s no longer on a Rookie deal. 17m/yr is a ton of money for an interior lineman.
Jonah is a mauler in run game but led the line in holding calls this yr and tied for most penalties on the line overall. He struggled in one on one pass pro.
Zeitler is one of the best pass pro guards in the league, and there’s little if any drop off in run blocking between the two.
Zeitler is a stopgap, sure, but he’s also a Top-5/Top-7 RG in the NFL still. With Glasgow having the ability to play all 3 Interior spots they can also keep him on the right side with the best run blocking tackle in the league.
It all sets up for what might be the best Oline in NFL now with Kelce retired
Saving $11m/yr by swapping Zeitler for Jonah, while giving another yr of development for a guy they love in Sorsdal is just A-level GM’ing by Holmes
Even after many years of starting work. Zeitler is still a good starter. The Lions may have lost a great young guard on the upswing of his career, but somehow they found a way to mitigate that loss fairly well. Great move.
I’d still expect Detroit to acquire a young player at guard or center going forward. Between Ragnow, Zeitler, and Glasgow, they have three quality veterans in the interior of the line who may miss time or have age begin to wither their effectiveness. Ragnow in particular acknowledged some retirement concerns last year as well. Detroit having a young player in reserve would be a good idea going forward.
See my comment above….Zeitler is more than “still a good starter”. If you take age and “possible progression” out of it, and just go strictly on skill/ability in 2024, Zeitler is an improvement over Jackson. Z will be playing the right side and is significantly better pass pro than JJ, and any drop-off in run blocking–if there even is any drop off between the two–will be offset by the fact Z will be lining up between the a great run blocking Center and the BEST run blocking Tackle in the NFL.
And gives Sorsdal another yr of development, since I think he’s the plan as future RG. I’d love to see them nab a hybrid C/G in 2nd or 3rd. Remember, Ragnow initially was plugged in at guard in start of career. Not all of em, but a lot of draft prospects in the interior positions have versatility across the 3 spots
I don’t disagree. I like what you said. I’m mostly discussing future potential. Jackson was a homespun young player, and probably would have been a long term type of player otherwise. For that reason, I think that Detroit still has to think future. It’s not just Zeitler. Like I said, Glasgow and Ragnow are also vets, and Ragnow has had injury issues rear up into his availability. He’s fought through quite a bit. The Lions wouldn’t lose anything by being prepared.
In case it isn’t clear, I do love this signing. I just would expect Detroit to still add.
6 million for a pro bowler is below market. Perhaps veterans are seeing Detroit as a destination for ring chasing! It would be wise. A title is coming to Detroit before this Zeitler hangs ‘em up.
I mean…I know he’s a Michigan guy so of course there’s bias, but with his injury dropping him a round or 2 I think Zak Zinter would be an AWESOME pick for them in round 2. Was projected to be 2nd or 3rd guard drafted before the injury. Still will be one of the first five or six taken. His mentality fits that Oline perfectly too, and he has versatility to play either L or R side as well.
Actually, looking at it, I think Zinter is there at pick 92 for em. Replace one Z with another ?
Great writeup about Zinter on the Commanders blog…he’s such a Campbell/Holmes type. Walking out of the draft with some combo of WR Montrez Walker, OG Zinter and a Missouri guy like DE Darius Robinson or CB Abrams-Draine has become my Wet Dream scenario
TMI