As Kevin Zeitler shines for Lions, the guy he replaced has been a disaster

The Detroit Lions nearly kept their elite 2023 offensive line intact in 2024, with the only exception being guard Jonah Jackson, who left Detroit for the Los Angeles Rams.

Jackson got a lucrative three-year, $51 million contract from the Rams, which at the time seemed a little too rich. Whatever the case may be, the Lions pivoted and ended up signing guard Kevin Zeitler, who was coming off a Pro Bowl campaign.

The early returns on Zeitler have been fantastic. He has given up two sacks and nine total pressures over 10 games, and he sports Pro Football Focus grades of 73.8 and 86.8 in pass protection and run-blocking, respectively. He has been a seamless fit.

Meanwhile, Jackson has been a disaster for the Rams. After playing in the first two games of the season, Jackson suffered an injury that forced him to miss the next six contests.

He then returned to the starting lineup in Week 10 against the Miami Dolphins and was deployed at center, where he struggled. In Week 11, Jackson was benched for sixth-round rookie Beaux Limmer. Yikes.

In 200 snaps played this season (135 pass-blocking), Jackson hasn't surrendered a sack but has given up seven total pressures, two fewer than Zeitler has allowed despite Jackson playing less than half the pass-blocking snaps.

Jackson sports a 53.4 pass-blocking grade and a 51.5 run-blocking grade, per PFF. Safe to say, the Rams spent way too much on the Ohio State product.

General manager Brad Holmes deserves a ton of credit for not biting on the kind of contract that Jackson ended up getting. It has clearly been a disaster for the Rams, and Detroit actually ended up upgrading their unit by letting Jackson walk.

And there is another example of why the Lions are in such a good spot right now. Holmes has done a masterful job at making personnel decisions over the last few years and is one of the best general managers in the sport.

MORE DETROIT LIONS NEWS

Lions sign linebacker in wake of Alex Anzalone injury

Alex Anzalone posts inspirational message after serious injury in Lions win

Lions defenders have blunt message for critics of Detroit embarrassing opponents