It took until the second week of the proceedings to get all the way done, but the Detroit Lions arguably got the biggest steal of 2024 free agency when they signed guard Kevin Zeitler to a one-year, $6 million deal.

Zeitler then went out and had quite possibly the best year of his long career, earning the third-best overall grade among guards from Pro Football Focus (and the second-best run blocking grade at the position). He has some early hiccups in pass blocking as he acclimated to new linemates and a new scheme, but he he got better thereafter.

At 35 years old by the time free agency starts (March 8), Zeitler could very well prioritize being on a contending team over any pay day he could get. But he should have a lot of suitors, with a lot of teams as a possible fit/with a need, and the prevailing thought here is (as it is for nearly every free agent) is he should see what else is out there. If he comes back to the Lions for less money than he could have gotten elsewhere, then that’s his prerogative.

If we know nothing else about Lions general manager Brad Holmes, it’s that he’ll be ready to pivot quickly if an attempt to retain Zeitler isn’t going well. Losing him won’t be ideal, but if he’s going to be gone the expectation has to be that the hole he leaves behind won’t stay unfilled for long.

Here are four potential pivot options for the Lions in free agency if Zeitler has to be replaced.

4 potential free agency pivots for the Detroit Lions if Kevin Zeitler leaves

4. Dalton Risner

Risner has started at both guard spots for the Minnesota Vikings over the last two seasons, giving the Lions a close look at three games of tape in that span. Throughout his career has consistently been a far better pass protector than run blocker, but it’s also fair to say he has never worked as part of an offensive line like the Lions have.

Risner would probably be more of a contingency plan to replace Zeitler if the Lions are inclined to go with Christian Mahogany at right guard but he shows he’s not quite ready. But as low-cost veterans go, you can do a lot worse than Risner.

3. Will Hernandez

Based on an easy to overlook nugget Holmes dropped at the NFL Combine, in reference to having looked at the Lions’ game against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 3 last season, Hernandez may be on the radar.

“I was looking at our game at Arizona in Week 3. We’re looking at a free agent on the offensive side of the ball”, Holmes said.

Hernandez had an ill-timed significant injury in his contract year, missing the final 12 games of last season due to a knee injury. But he had the highest grades of his career from Pro Football Focus both overall (69.3) and as a run blocker (66.0) up to that point, and if he had enough snaps to qualify his 74.2 pass blocking grade would’ve been top-15 among all guards. In each of his first two seasons as a Cardinal, 2022 and 2023, PFF graded him in the top-30 among guards in the league.

Hernandez started his career, with the New York Giants, at left guard and he made 39 starts there over his first three NFL seasons. So he has some utility there, even if appears right guard is his best position and that’s where he’ll likely stay for whoever he plays for next.

2. Mekhi Becton

After struggling to start his career with the New York Jets, as many players seem to, the Philadelphia Eagles signed Becton late in 2024 free agency. They also moved him in to right guard last season, and he thrived as part of one of the best offensive lines in the league.

Multiple reports have suggested Becton’s preference is to re-sign with the Eagles, in acknowledgement of the team that helped him rescue his career. But it’s also unclear where the Eagles are on that front, or if they feel like they can replace him easily. A proverbial “offer he can’t (shouldn’t) refuse” could also move Becton off his stance of staying in Philadelphia.

The Lions shouldn’t necessarily break the bank to sign Becton if they are in the market for a guard, and they may not have to. If Zeiter is lined up to be gone, the former first-round pick is on the list of potential options to replace him.

1. Brandon Scherff

Scherff is not playing at the level he did early in his career with Washington, when he earned five Pro Bowl nods over seven seasons. But he started every game the last three seasons for the Jacksonville Jaguars, and he particularly remains top-notch in pass protection (78.7 and 74.5 pass blocking grades from PFF over the last two seasons, with a total of two sacks allowed over that span-both in 2023). Keeping interior pressure out of Jared Goff’s face is a critical thing for the Lions’ offense.

In the honorable mention section for the Lions in his recent piece predicting one free agent signing for each team, Ben Rolfe of Pro Football Network named Scherff. That is surely mostly with the caveat of Zeitler leaving, though Mike Payton of AtoZ Sports hit a light angle suggesting “even if the Lions get Zietler back, they should still have some interest in Scherff.”

Scherff is 33 years old, so a two or maybe three-year deal would be in play wherever he goes. The per-year cost should be close between he and Zeitler, so he’s an easy No. 1 pivot for the Lions if Zeitler decides to ply his trade elsewhere.