After a couple of days with out a signing, the Detroit Lions are again to creating strikes. On Monday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Kevin Zeitler would signal with the Lions on a one-year deal on Tuesday with a bodily pending. Based on The thirty third Staff’s Ari Meirov, the deal supposedly has a $6 million base, however no different particulars have come out but. Zeitler replaces guard Jonah Jackson, who signed with the Los Angeles Rams, however count on Zeitler to play proper guard and Graham Glasgow to maneuver again to left guard.
Final week, the Lions have been energetic within the first week of free company, and it ended with the signing of defensive deal with DJ Reader. Most Lions followers thought that was the ultimate splash transfer the workforce would make, however normal supervisor Brad Holmes was nonetheless within the kitchen cooking up some offers and got here away reinforcing an already sturdy offensive line.
Zeitler was a primary spherical of the NFL Draft within the 2012 NFL Draft with the Cincinnati Bengals. After 5 strong seasons with the Bengals, Zeitler moved on to the Cleveland Browns for 2 seasons, then did the identical cease with the New York Giants, earlier than heading to the Baltimore Ravens for the final three seasons.
Let’s check out how Zeitler becoming a member of the Lions helps Detroit’s offensive line, adjustments their draft plans total, and places this workforce on the doorstep of a Tremendous Bowl look and doable championship.
How good is Kevin Zeitler?
Coming off, surprisingly, his first Professional Bowl season Zeitler is likely one of the finest guards within the NFL. Zeitler is an prompt improve over Jackson, and whereas Zeitler performs proper guard—in comparison with Jackson taking part in left guard—it’s nonetheless a terrific transfer by the Lions to signal him. One in every of Zeitler’s biggest strengths is his skill to remain wholesome. In case you have been following the Lions the previous few years, you already know that the offensive line hardly ever operated at full power, as a number of gamers would miss time, forcing backups to play. Since getting drafted in 2012, Zeitler has solely missed 12 video games in his profession.
Final season, in response to PFF, Zeitler was ranked fifteenth in total offensive grade for guards who performed at the least 20% of snaps with a grade of 71.6. When it got here to go blocking, he was ranked second with a grade of 82.5, whereas run blocking wasn’t as sturdy, getting a grade of 62.4, rating him tied for twenty seventh.
His total PFF grade historical past has been very strong, along with his worst yr being in 2020 with a grade of 65.9. Outdoors of 2020, his grades have been within the vary of 71.6 to 88. Zeitler is a greater go blocker than run blocker, as his grade ranges have been between 68.7 and 91.7. His run blocking isn’t his biggest power as his vary of grades for that has been between 59.7 and 82.8.
How does this have an effect on the Lions?
This transfer simply offers the Lions the title for finest offensive line within the NFL and it’s not even shut. That is the beginning 5 the workforce can have come Week 1 for the 2024 season.
Be aware: All of those grades are for gamers who’ve performed at the least 20% of snaps in 2023 in response to PFF.
LT – Taylor Decker (sixteenth ranked deal with, 81.1 offensive grade, 79.4 go blocking grade, 73.9 run blocking grade)
LG – Graham Glasgow (eighth ranked guard, 74.9 offensive grade, 54.8 go blocking grade, 82.1 run blocking grade)
C – Frank Ragnow (1st ranked heart, 88.8 offensive grade, 70.3 go blocking grade, 91.3 run blocking grade)
RG – Kevin Zeitler (fifteenth ranked guard, 71.6 offensive grade, 82.3 go blocking grade, 62.4 run blocking grade)
RT – Penei Sewell (1st ranked deal with, 92.8 offensive grade, 79.2 go blocking grade, 95.1 run blocking grade)
The signing of Zeitler will probably transfer Glasgow again over to left guard, the place he began his profession in 2016. Whereas Glasgow had his finest yr at proper guard, Zeitler has solely 12 snaps at left guard in his 12-year profession. Will probably be simpler to maneuver Glasgow again to left guard and slide Zeitler into proper guard, reasonably than have Zeitler be taught left guard. Additionally, Glasgow is shut pals with Ragnow and Decker, so there’s a pure chemistry there.
This additionally implies that the Lions don’t have to draft a guard early on within the draft. Their purpose will probably be so as to add a guard to sit down behind Zeitler and compete for a beginning job in 2025 with Colby Sorsdal. It adjustments the Lions draft technique as soon as once more, with it coming all the way down to a doable finest participant obtainable choice at choose 29.
Was he definitely worth the worth?
100% sure. A $6 million base is fairly low-cost for a veteran starter coming off a professional bowl season. We don’t know the main points of the entire worth of the contract, however one the floor, it looks as if an excellent deal for either side. Zeitler often indicators with a workforce for at the least two years, however with him simply turning 34, his time within the NFL is coming nearer to an finish so one-year offers are going to be extra widespread for him right here on out.
For that worth, he’s serving to your entire offensive line out along with his information, and probably passing that all the way down to the youthful guards that can take over in 2025. Zeitler is doing two issues for this workforce, taking part in at a excessive degree and educating the long run to verify this line doesn’t downgrade when he leaves after his contract is up.
Ultimate ideas and grade
Grade: A+
General, this signing overtakes the Reader signing. Whereas Reader was a much bigger want, boosting the defensive position to a respectful degree, including Zeitler to the offensive line strengthens the most effective place group on the workforce. The offense will enhance with this signing as Zeitler is a longtime go blocker who can maintain quarterback Jared Goff upright. And whereas he doesn’t do as effectively in run blocking, the remainder of the offensive line excels in it and might help him out. Operating backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs ought to have one other incredible season if all 5 can keep wholesome.
This additionally makes it so the Lions may actually assault the draft with a finest participant obtainable mindset. The one different actual want on this workforce is an edge rusher that doesn’t have an harm historical past as intensive as Marcus Davenport, and if the workforce indicators one other veteran edge rusher, that erases that as the highest want. The Lions may nonetheless use depth at security, cornerback, vast receiver, and defensive deal with, which all might be in play now at choose 29, making it an actual unknown for what the workforce may do come April.
This signing additionally helps strengthen the actual chance that the Lions couldn’t solely make the Tremendous Bowl subsequent season however may win the entire thing. An upgraded offensive line, with a strong working again duo, an excellent quarterback who can throw to a choice of useful receivers and tight ends, together with a defensive position that may create stress, and a linebacker group that may do no matter you want it to do, combined with an improved secondary and you bought your self a robust championship degree workforce.