Kevin Zeitler proved to be a perfect fit for the Detroit Lions’ offensive line last season, as he posted one of the best seasons of his career by Pro Football Focus grades and the eye test. He’s up in age, turning 35 on March 8, but he’s lined up to have a lot of suitors as he hits free agency again.
The Lions could re-sign Zeitler before free agency starts and make his looming market a moot point. Not having to replace him would also go a long way toward answering some questions they have at guard for next season right now, if not remove them entirely.
As an older player, Zeitler may have different priorities than a lot of free agents do. It may not be about getting the biggest pay day, with a focus on fit, comfort and winning instead. That said, he absolutely should see what the market bears for him after having such a good season. If that yields a return to Detroit, great.
Division rival may be huge threat to sign Kevin Zeitler away from the Lions
Among Zeitler’s potential free agency destinations, following Ben Johnson to the Chicago Bears certainly looks possible depending on how they reshape their interior offensive line.
Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune rounded up some Bears-related thoughts from the NFL Combine. He put some focus on the interior offensive line, talking about some options in free agency.
“Other veterans could be short-term options too. Kevin Zeitler played last season for the Lions. The Waukesha, Wis., native told me after the Thanksgiving Day game at Ford Field that he has tried to get interest from the Bears in the past. He turns 35 on March 8, so you’re talking about another short-term fix, but maybe that’s a possibility if the Bears are thinking about a center (Dalman) in free agency and a guard in the first or second round of the draft. That would give them three new starters for the interior.”
The core point note here is worth re-stating. After the Lions-Bears Thanksgiving Day game last season, Zeitler told Biggs he has tried to get interest from the Bears before (including in 2024?). Johnson now being the Bears head coach stands to bolster the idea for Zeitler now, as well as fuel interest from Chicago.
Losing Zeitler to a division rival would be a bad double-whammy for the Lions. The Bears possibly being a preferred spot for him, with plenty of cap room, makes them loom as a prominent suitor.
