The Lions had to solidify their linebacker depth, which they addressed by re-signing Derrick Barnes.
Their cornerback group required a veteran CB1 to mentor the younger players. They signed D.J. Reed to fill that role.
Now, with only a few remaining gaps to address for their 2025 roster, two players stand out as viable solutions to complete the team.
Kevin Zeitler
While this may seem like an obvious choice, Zeitler is soon to be a free agent. Bringing him back for another year still makes a lot of sense for the Lions.
Zeitler was a reliable presence during his single season with the team. If he leaves, the only replacement option on the roster is Christian Mahogany, who has only started twice in his career.
The Lions could still explore other options on the market, but Zeitler remains the best fit for their needs. If they feel confident in Mahogany, they only need a short-term option.
Zeitler didn’t show signs of decline in his age-34 season, and he may not want anything more than a one-year deal.
A deal in the range of $8 million per year, similar to James Daniels’ contract, would be a reasonable raise for Zeitler and a fair price for the Lions.
The Lions should bring back a familiar and dependable player like Zeitler to solidify their offensive line.
Azeez Ojulari
Currently, Marcus Davenport is set to start opposite Aidan Hutchinson on the edge.
That’s not enough.
While the team could draft an edge rusher, this year’s class is filled with projects, which means any rookie could be a year away from making an impact.
Having a rookie alongside Davenport isn’t ideal for a team with Super Bowl aspirations.
They need another veteran who can contribute immediately.
Azeez Ojulari would be a solid choice.
Ojulari’s career has been inconsistent, but he’s shown he can be effective as a pass rusher. He posted eight sacks as a rookie and accumulated 22 in his first four years despite injury setbacks.
This past season, he had six sacks in 11 games, despite competing for snaps with Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux.
He’ll likely command a deal similar to Malcolm Koonce’s one-year, $12 million contract with the Raiders.
This would be a reasonable investment for a team that needs to improve its pass rush, which currently only includes one player who reached four sacks last season.
With plenty of cap space available, the Lions haven’t spent much yet, meaning they can afford to invest in Ojulari to help boost their pass rush in 2025 and beyond.
Even if they’re hesitant to splurge on the position due to their investment in Hutchinson, they still need to make moves to improve pressure up front.