LIONS ROSTER PREVIEW: PRO BOWLER KEVIN ZEITLER STRENGTHENS ALREADY STRONG GROUP
As we head toward a new season, All Lions is taking a look at each member of the 53-man roster to recap their 2023-24 season and look ahead to the upcoming campaign. Today, we focus on guard Kevin Zeitler. Check out our past stories on Penei Sewell, Taylor Decker, Frank Ragnow and Graham Glasgow.
The Detroit Lions’ top-ranked offensive line lost one starter over the offseason and replaced him with a Pro Bowler in Kevin Zeitler.
The 34-year-old has been a pillar of durability over his 12-year NFL career, appearing in more regular-season games (182) since he entered the league than any other offensive lineman — five more than the recently retired Jason Kelce and 19 more than the next closest active player, Cardinals offensive tackle Kelvin Beachum. He did miss the final two games of the regular season last year due to a knee injury but returned to play in Baltimore’s two postseason games, two of the seven he’s played in his career.
Pro Football Focus has consistently rated Zeitler among the better guards in the NFL, grading him in the top 10 five times and the top 15 another three seasons, including last year when he received a 62.4 run block grade (28th among all guards), an 82.3 pass block grade (2nd) and a 71.6 overall grade.
Per PFF, Zeitler allowed two sacks (tied for 45th-most among guards), as well as 19 quarterback pressures and one hit while being called for four penalties (tied for 28th-most) in 982 snaps last season. He gave up another sack among two pressures in two playoff games.
He figures to not only be an upgrade over Jonah Jackson but also Glasgow, who will shift to left guard, giving the Lions a truly elite right side of the O-line.
While he’s not the road-grader in the run game that Glasgow and the Lions’ other offensive lineman are, he’s great in pass protection and should give Jared Goff more time to dissect opposing defenses.
Look for the Lions to have one of the best offensive lines in the entire league next season and Zeitler to be a key part of its success.