Veteran offensive lineman is taking his talents from one NFL conference runner-up to another.
According to Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team, the Detroit Lions are signing ex-Baltimore Ravens standout guard Kevin Zeitler to a one-year contract worth $6 million. This comes a day after Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that Zeitler planned to sign with Detroit after taking a physical on Monday evening.
Kevin Zeitler’s deal with the #Lions, per source: 1-year with a base value of $6M. https://t.co/pLRJ9dNHjV pic.twitter.com/rfmyY5qKYD
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) March 19, 2024
Kevin Zeitler is an outstanding signing by DET
pass block grades as a Raven:
#2 of 83 in 2023
#4 of 84 in 2022
#4 of 88 in 2022plus he’s durable
15+ starts in 9 straight yrs
here’s 5 mins of Baldy salivating over his game when BAL first landed himpic.twitter.com/sr400Vhpox
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) March 18, 2024
Zeitler’s deal comes after the Detroit Lions lost fellow star guard Jonah Jackson to the Los Angeles Rams in free agency. Jackson left the NFC North to take a massive three-year, $51 million contract from Sean McVay and company.
The 34-year-old Zeitler earned his first Pro Bowl nod this past season after helping the Ravens to the AFC’s top seed as well as an AFC Championship Game appearance, where they fell to the Kansas City Chiefs.
According to Pro Football Focus, Zeitler allowed just two sacks on 982 offensive snaps last season, and two on 955 snaps the year before. His PFF grade has been 69.3 or higher in each of the last three years.
Zeitler joins a Detroit Lions team that’s coming off its first NFC Championship Game appearance in 32 years. They blew a 17-point lead to the San Francisco 49ers and dropped a heartbreaker by a final score of 34-31.
Kevin Zeitler Is The Perfect Pickup For Detroit Lions
The offensive line has been the Detroit Lions’ main strength in the Dan Campbell-Brad Holmes era since their arrival in 2021.
Penei Sewell, Taylor Decker and Frank Ragnow are as good of a trio as it gets in the trenches. And with Kevin Zeitler coming in to replace Jackson, it ensures that the Detroit Lions’ No. 1 strength will not miss a beat.
Zeitler is the perfect short-term pickup for a Detroit team that’s in win-now mode. And with Zeitler nearing the end of his career, it’s the ideal place for him to chase a Super Bowl ring.
