Detroit Lions Signs $11.9 Million Star Player To Replace A Key Player For 2024 Season
With the departure of starting left guard Jonah Jackson to the Los Angeles Rams, the Detroit Lions are in need of a suitable replacement to maintain the strength of their offensive line. While the Lions have made commendable additions in free agency, there’s a glaring gap at the left guard position that needs to be addressed before the 2024 season kicks off.
Currently, the Lions have Colby Sorsdal and Kayode Awosika as potential options for the left guard spot, but neither seems to be the ideal choice for a starting role. Given this situation, it’s highly likely that Lions GM Brad Holmes will make a move to sign a free-agent guard before the start of the 2024 NFL Draft.
In my opinion, the Lions should target Pro Bowl guard Kevin Zeitler, formerly of the Baltimore Ravens. Zeitler, who entered the NFL as the No. 27 overall pick in the 2012 draft with the Cincinnati Bengals, has consistently been one of the league’s top offensive linemen. His recognition as a Pro Bowl guard last season was long overdue. According to Pro Football Focus, Zeitler was the NFL’s second-highest-graded pass-blocking guard in 2023, allowing just 21 pressures throughout the year.
Signing Kevin Zeitler would not only provide an immediate upgrade to the Lions’ offensive line but also bring a wealth of experience and stability to the unit. His skill set and performance align perfectly with the Lions’ needs, making him an ideal fit for the team. Furthermore, I anticipate that Brad Holmes will also look to reinforce the interior offensive line through the 2024 NFL Draft, likely targeting a promising prospect within the first three rounds. Securing a proven talent like Zeitler should be a top priority in the Lions’ offseason strategy to ensure better protection for quarterback Jared Goff and enhance the team’s overall offensive capabilities.
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All Lions: D.J. Reader ‘Super Excited’ To Be Alim McNeill’s Teammate
The Detroit Lions bolstered the interior of their defensive line in a big way Thursday. They acquired former Cincinnati Bengals defensive lineman D.J. Reader, inking the 335-pound nose tackle to a two-year deal worth up to $27.25 million.
The acquisition of Reader stands to significantly benefit fellow defensive tackle Alim McNeill. He provides McNeill with a strong run-stuffing counterpart along the interior of the defensive line.
Per Pro Football Focus, McNeill was the eighth-best defensive tackle against the run a season ago, while Reader was the 10th.
Reader, a 2016 fifth-round pick of the Houston Texans, told the Detroit Free Press he’s looking forward to joining forces with McNeill.
“I’m super excited,” Reader said of the opportunity to be McNeill’s running mate. “He’s a young player who has a lot, a lot of talent. … I’m excited to pair with him, see the things that he does well. I watch him all the time on film. So, I’m excited to just get around him and just be around and be able to pick his brain about what he likes about the position.”
Reader, who earned a PFF overall grade of 82.2 in 2023, spent the first four seasons of his NFL career with the Texans before joining the Bengals in 2020. In four seasons and 44 total games with Cincinnati, he racked up 68 total tackles, including seven for loss, 20 quarterback hits, three sacks and three fumble recoveries.
Now 29 years old, he joins the Lions as a savvy veteran, with eight years of NFL experience under his belt. He’s looking forward to passing along all the knowledge he’s garnered to second-year defensive tackle Brodric Martin, a third-round pick of the Lions in 2023.
“He’s a young pup,” Reader said of Martin. “He’s running around, trying to figure things out. So, I can’t wait to get my hands on him and just talk to him, talk to him about ball, how to play this position, especially that nose guard position. It’s a unique position, and there’s a right way to do it and there’s a wrong way to do it. And, there’s just things you can learn that’ll help you out. Especially I think you can be asked to take double teams on all the time. So hopefully, I can help him a lot.”