3 years later: Re-evaluating the Detroit Lions’ 2016 draft class
Selected: Sixth round / pick #27 (202nd overall)
School: Penn State
Position: Defensive Line
Career statistics: 44 games, 16 starts, 7.5 sacks
Current status: In training camp with Cleveland Browns
Zettel played sparingly in his rookie season behind starting defensive ends Ziggy Ansah and Kerry Hyder. However, a rash of injuries to the Lions’ edge defenders during the 2017 preseason and his rapid development thrust Zettel into a more prominent role in year two. He responded with 6.5 sacks, starting all16 games.
A weak run defender, Zettel wasn’t a scheme fit under new head coach Matt Patricia, and was released prior to the 2018 season. He was scooped up by the Cleveland Browns, and enters his second season with them. He’ll be looking for a bounce back campaign, after failing to register a sack last year.