As the guard market was set to boom in 2024 free agency, it was clear the Detroit Lions would be letting Jonah Jackson go. He ended up signing a three-year, $51 million contract ($34 million guaranteed) with the Los Angeles Rams, and no one should begrudge him for cashing in when he could.
Jackson then suffered a shoulder injury early in training camp, but he was ready to go for Week 1 against his former team. He played in Week 2, then missed six games with a shoulder injury, returning to the Rams' lineup as the starting center in Week 10. He played some center in the season opener (37 snaps), but he had played just 24 snaps as a center over his four seasons on Detroit. So he's largely miscast as a center, but the Rams are rolling with second-year man Steve Avila at Jackson's customary left guard spot.
Jackson did not perform well against the Miami Dolphins in Week 10. He posted a 46.2 pass blocking grade from Pro Football Focus, and his run blocking grade was not much better (52.7). In Week 11, he was benched in favor of sixth-round rookie Beaux Limmer.
Benching of Jonah Jackson further proves savvy Lions' decision
When Jackson was gone, the Lions pivoted and signed veteran guard Kevin Zeitler to a one-year, $6 million deal. Zeitler being a right guard meant Graham Glasgow had to move over to left guard, but the move has worked out.
In Week 11, Zeitler posted the second-best overall PFF grade among guards (90.6). He is now PFF's third-highest graded guard for the season (87.8 overall grade), and it's not out of the question the Lions sign the 34-year old to a contract extension.
Meanwhile, Jackson (again, miscast starting at a position he has hardly played), has been benched for a rookie Day 3 draft pick. Limmer also posted good PFF grades against the New England Patriots on Sunday (69.3 pass blocking grade, 78.6 run blocking grade, 77.9 overall grade).
The Rams would ideally be able to use Jackson at the position they presumably signed him to play (left guard), but that they feel they can't says a lot. He has missed six games, and now he's a highly-paid backup. The Lions saved a lot of money by letting Jackson chase a bigger contract, and got a better player (as forecasted right off the bat). It's early, but let's declare this another big win for the Lions' front office and general manager Brad Holmes.