NFL coaches lamenting loss of Zeitler, Robertson, Reader to Lions in free agency
Dave Birkett
ORLANDO, Fla. – The way his old coach sees it, new Detroit Lions offensive guard Kevin Zeitler is about two things.
“Ball and bakery,” Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Monday morning at the NFL’s annual meeting. “I mean, his wife bakes the best stuff.”
Zeitler’s wife, Sara, was known for delivering cupcakes and other baked good to the Ravens locker room during his three seasons in Baltimore, and while Harbaugh predicted that tradition will continue in Detroit — “Everybody in Detroit in that building’s going to get some of the best baked goods that they’ve ever had in their life,” he said — the Lions pursued Zeitler in free agency more for what he can provide on the field.
Zeitler is expected to start this fall at right guard as the newest piece on one of the NFL’s best offensive lines.
He’s coming off a Pro Bowl season with the Ravens in which he started 15 games and helped Baltimore lead the NFL in rushing offense, and Harbaugh said the 34-year-old still has plenty to give.
“Kevin’s an excellent football player,” Harbaugh said. “He’s got a lot left in the tank. Very tough, physical guy. Kind of in a lot of ways, was about the personality of our team. He kind of established us that way.”
The Lions signed three free agents from AFC teams this offseason: Zeitler, cornerback Amik Robertson and defensive tackle D.J. Reader. At the AFC coaches breakfast Monday, here’s what else their old coaches had to say about the Lions’ newest additions.
Amik Robertson
Robertson moved up the depth chart after the release of Cam Sutton and currently projects as the Lions’ No. 2 cornerback opposite Carlton Davis. Asked what the Lions are getting in Robertson, who has inside-outside versatility at 5 feet 9, Raiders coach Antonio Pierce said, “A ball hawk.”
“You hate to say it, but he’s kind of got like a little man’s complex,” Pierce said. “He plays bigger than what he is. You look at a 5-8, 5-9 guy, but extremely talented, gifted, competitor. Sad to see him go, but very proud of him.”
Robertson was a fourth-round pick in 2020 who played primarily on special teams his first two seasons, before becoming a parttime starter in 2022. Last year, he made 12 starts and finished the season with two interceptions and a career-high 50 tackles.
“He did an extremely good job for
us,”
Pierce said. “Always battled. Was always the next man up and then when he got the opportunity this year he made the most of it.”
D.J. Reader
Reader was the biggest free agent the Lions signed this offseason, both in terms of name and physically at 6-3 and 327 pounds. He missed the end of last season a torn quad tendon, and Cincinnati Bengals coach Zac Taylor said his presence will be missed in the Bengals’ locker room.
“He’s a great leader for us, tremendous player, everything that we wanted our players to be about and our leaders to be about,” Taylor said. “Was consistent with his effort and performance, and has made some critical plays for us in some critical games that we’ll always remember, so wish D.J. the best of luck and I know Terrell Williams (Lions assistant) will take good care of him.”
Asked how Reader’s leadership manifested itself in Cincinnati, Taylor pointed to the role Reader played in helping a young Bengals team reach the Super Bowl in 2021.
“He’s just a champion,” Taylor said. “He’s won championships at Clemson. Like I said was part of some big moments here at Cincinnati for us. I know that’s why Detroit’s bringing him in.”