Two former Wisconsin Badgers land on PFF's list of the NFL's top guards for 2025
Two former Wisconsin Badgers land on PFF's list of the NFL's top guards for 2025
A pair of former Wisconsin Badgers appeared on ProFootballFocus' recent list of the NFL's top 32 guards entering the 2025 season.
Detroit Lions right guard Kevin Zeitler, a three-year Badger from 2009-11, and Buffalo Bills left guard David Edwards, who represented the Badgers from 2015-18, earned designations on the outlet's 32-man hierarchy.
Zeitler, a native of Waukesha, Wisconsin, landed at No. 9 on the list between Los Angeles Rams guard Kevin Dotson (No. 8) and San Francisco 49ers run-blocker Dominick Puni. The former Badger signed with the Detroit Lions ahead of the 2024 slate following his 2023 Pro Bowl campaign with the Baltimore Ravens. He's now entering his 14th professional campaign.
In offensive coordinator Ben Johnson's scheme, Zeitler helped the Lions rush 534 times for 2,488 yards and 29 scores with David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs starring in the backfield. Zeitler started at right guard in all 16 of his appearances.
Despite being one of the older players at his position, Zeitler is about as effective as anyone not named Joe Thuney, Chris Lindstrom, or Quenton Nelson. Here's PFF's analysis:
"Although Zeitler enters 2025 at age 35, he continues to prove he isn't slowing down. In his lone season in Detroit, Zeitler earned his highest PFF overall grade (86.5) in a decade, finishing as the NFL's third-highest-graded guard. While his pass protection dipped a bit in 2024, his 87.2 PFF run-blocking grade stands as the best of his career."
Meanwhile, PFF ranked Edwards down at No. 29. The 2019 First-team All-Big Ten team member has played six professional seasons with the Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo Bills. Shortly after winning a Super Bowl with the Rams in 2021, the lineman joined the Bills in 2023 as a backup before starting all 16 games during the 2024 campaign.
With reigning MVP Josh Allen and dynamic rusher James Cook as primary ball-carriers, the Bills rushed for 2,230 yards and a league-best 32 touchdowns a season ago. Here's what PFF said about Edwards ahead of his third season in Buffalo:
"2024 marked Edwards' first season in a starting role since 2021. He earned solid PFF overall grades, but really stood out as a zone blocker, recording a 78.1 PFF run-blocking grade on zone concepts — good for the 93rd percentile and the fifth-highest mark among qualifying guards."
Zeitler's Lions will square off against the Packers on Sept. 7 to begin the season, while Edwards' Bills will play the Ravens the same day, beginning their quest for a second straight AFC Championship game appearance.
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