Vikings sign DE Anthony Zettel

On Wednesday, the Minnesota Vikings made a second free agent signing to go along with the addition of wide receiver Tajae Sharpe, this time addressing the defensive line.

Per numerous sources, the Vikings have signed defensive end Anthony Zettel on a one-year deal. Financial terms have not yet been disclosed.

Zettel played his college ball at Penn State, and was a sixth-round pick (#202 overall) of the Detroit Lions in the 2016 NFL Draft. He spent his first two seasons in the NFL with the Lions, highlighted by a 2017 season that saw him pick up 6.5 sacks. That included the lone game of his career where he’s collected multiple sacks, the Lions’ 14-7 victory over the Vikings in Week 4 of that 2017 season.

The Lions waived Zettel in September of 2018 and he was claimed by the Cleveland Browns, appearing in 15 games for them that season. He was then waived by the Browns during the final cuts of the 2019 season, and wound up splitting this past season with the Cincinnati Bengals and the San Francisco 49ers. He was with the Niners all the way through their loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV.

Much like the Sharpe signing, this doesn’t appear to be a huge signing or anything, but Zettel will have an opportunity to become a part of the Vikings’ defensive line rotation during the preseason.