The Detroit Lions made a smart move in 2024 free agency by signing Kevin Zeitler after losing guard Jonah Jackson to the Los Angeles Rams. Considering his performance relative to his cost, Zeitler’s one-year, $6 million deal is one of the best bargains from last year’s free agency across the league.
Zeitler ended the season as Pro Football Focus’ third-highest-graded guard (86.8 overall grade), with the second-best run-blocking grade at the position (87.2). After some early issues as a pass blocker, he mostly performed well in that aspect too.
Zeitler should have some multi-year offers on the table when free agency begins. While he might opt to stay with the Lions on another one-year deal, it’s worth seeing what other opportunities exist, as all free agents should. At 35, Zeitler could fall into the category of veterans who would be willing to stay put if a reasonable offer comes through.
Related: 4 teams who could sign Kevin Zeitler away from the Lions in free agency
‘Unexpected’ team who could sign Kevin Zeitler away from the Lions actually stands out as clear choice A number of teams, including the Lions, could realistically pursue Zeitler, and he looks like a solid option for teams needing a right guard but wary of possibly overpaying for someone like Trey Smith.
Before joining the Lions, Zeitler spent three seasons (2021-2023) with the Baltimore Ravens. Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz spent over two decades in the Ravens’ front office before moving to Los Angeles, making former Ravens players a priority for him.
The Chargers are actively searching for a right guard and are sitting with the fifth-most cap space in the league ($63.4 million). Given how much Jim Harbaugh values strong play in the trenches, Zeitler has become a prime free-agent target for the Chargers, even if only as a short-term solution.
While Zeitler’s contract projections suggest he may receive another one-year deal at a slightly higher value, especially considering his age and questions about his long-term performance, the Chargers, once considered a sneaky option for Zeitler, now appear to be one of the top contenders for his services.