The Detroit Lions have several important players slated to enter free agency this offseason, including guard Kevin Zeitler. The veteran played 16 games for the Lions in 2024 at right guard and ranked among the top interior offensive linemen in the league.
Zeitler will attract several teams interested in him, and A to Z Sports’ Kole Noble anticipates that the 34-year-old will leave Detroit to join the Chicago Bears. Noble estimates Zeitler’s contract will be two years worth $15 million, including a $3 million signing bonus.
All of these indicators suggest Kevin Zeitler, who entered into a one-year, $6 million contract in Detroit and played for Ben Johnson in 2024. “While he’s not a long-term fix, he understands what Johnson expects from his offensive line and can serve as a solid leader for at least one to two seasons,” Noble stated.
Zeitler may be aging, but he was extremely reliable for Detroit last season, giving up four sacks and only 18 quarterback pressures over 577 pass-blocking plays. The previous first-round selection recorded an 87.2 run-blocking score, placing third among guards.
Chicago requires an improvement at right guard and should focus on safeguarding quarterback Caleb Williams. Signing Zeitler to an affordable contract to act as a starter in the interior would be a smart decision by general manager Ryan Poles. The Bears possess ample funds to acquire the seasoned offensive lineman and fulfill other requirements, as the team is projected to have $79.4 million in salary cap space, according to Over the Cap.
The Lions ought to try to keep Zeitler in free agency and reassemble the same starting five offensive linemen from the previous year; however, if the former Wisconsin star chooses to sign with another team in 2025, Chicago would be a perfect fit, particularly due to the Ben Johnson link.