Fresh off an appearance in the NFC Championship Game, the upstart Detroit Lions are not resting on their laurels.
General manager Brad Holmes and Co. have added three new starters on the defensive side of the ball. That included acquiring cornerback Carlton Davis in a trade with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers earlier in March.
Detroit has also picked up edge rusher Marcus Davenport and defensive tackle D.J. Reader in NFL free agency.
Now, the Lions are focusing on the offensive side of the ball while providing Jared Goff with more protection upfront.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Detroit has signed Pro Bowl guard Kevin Zeitler away from the Baltimore Ravens in free agency.
This move comes after Detroit lost starting guard Jonah Jackson to the Los Angeles Rams on a big money contract earlier in free agency
Zeitler, 34, was an original first-round pick of the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2012 NFL Draft out of Wisconsin. The guard spent his first five seasons in Cincinnati before signing with the Cleveland Browns. He has also played for the New York Giants in addition to a recent three-year run in Baltimore.
As underrated as they come, Zeitler earned his first Pro Bowl nod this past season in Baltimore. During his 12-year NFL career, he has started 181 of 182 games in which he’s appeared.
For Detroit, this solidifies the team’s offensive line in front of Goff. Zeitler will join Graham Glasgow as a starting guard with Frank Ragnow filling out the interior. Meanwhile, the book ends are going to be left tackle Taylor Decker and right tackle Penei Sewell. It has the looks of one of the better offensive lines in the NFL.