Jonah Jackson, a guard, signed a three-year, $51 million contract with the Los Angeles Rams, and the Lions lost him to free agency.
When Halapoulivaati Vaitai was injured last season, Graham Glasgow filled in for him at right guard for the most of the year. Although Vaitai has since left, Detroit offered the 6’6″, 315-pound Glasgow a $20 million, three-year contract.
Zeitler’s signing is anticipated to cause Glasgow to go to a left guard lineup, with Zeitler playing right guard and left tackle Taylor Decker, center Frank Ragnow, and right tackle Penei Sewell at left guard and right tackle, respectively.
In 2012, Zeitler was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the first round. In addition, he played for the New York Giants, the Cleveland Browns, and the Baltimore Ravens for the previous three seasons.
With the Ravens, he finished second in the NFL at his position in pass blocking last season and made his first-ever Pro Bowl appearance. In 2022 and 2021, he came in second at that position. Since his rookie season, Zeitler has only allowed three sacks or fewer in each NFL season, according to Pro Football Focus.
The six-foot-four, 339-pound Zeitler has also made at least 15 starts in nine consecutive seasons and is incredibly durable.
After the Lions signed defensive tackle D.J. Reader, defensive end Marcus Davenport, cornerback Amik Robertson, and cornerback Carlton Davis from Tampa Bay, Zeitler is the team’s fourth off-season addition.
In addition to Glasgow, the Lions have kept their free agents tight end Shane Zylstra, offensive lineman Dan Skipper, linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin, cornerback Emmanuel Moseley, and kicker Michael Badgley.