The Detroit Lions are finally getting a full picture of their starting offensive line ahead of the 2025 season, with the starting rotation looking like Penei Sewell, Tate Ratledge, Christian Mahogany, Graham Glasgow, and Taylor Decker. It's a solid lineup, and one that's bounced back nicely from the retirement of center Frank Ragnow.
One departure from the starting line that still feels like a bit of a whiff for the Lions' front office, though, is letting Kevin Zeitler walk in free agency. The team clearly wanted to give Mahogany more of a shot on the starting line, which meant Zeitler had to be sacrificed.
But, given what's happened with the line in the wake of Ragnow's retirement, it's clear that keeping Zeitler on would have helped immensely with the Lions' depth in the room. That's what makes such a rare miss by the front office feel so strange.
Letting Zeitler walk remains weirdest move of Lions' offseason
Zeitler left the Lions for a role with the Tennessee Titans on a deal worth $9 million with a length of just one year. Zeitler has always been a guard, and he could've been a valuable replacement for Glawgow, who moved over to center this offseason. The experienced veteran could have also been a great shoulder for Ratledge to lean on during his rookie year.
On such a small deal, you would think the Lions could also have fought to keep Zeitler on the roster. But they opted to let him walk and test the market to open up a competitive slot for Mahogany in training camp. Given the injury risk associated with this line - especially to Glasgow - he would've been a great fit as even a starter here.
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Of course, the hole left by Zeitler was somewhat filled in the draft by the Lions taking Ratledge in the second round. It became imperative for them to take a guard there, especially one that could be developed quickly into a starter. Ratledge has since taken on whatever Detroit has thrown at him, including trying out as the center.
Zeitler was just one negative drop in the Lions' largely positive offseason, though. They got back many key players like Derrick Barnes, Marcus Davenport, and Dan Skipper, while also signing D.J. Reed, Roy Lopez, and Grant Stuard, amongst others, as newcomers.