Lions' rival named best landing spot for Kevin Zeitler in 2025 free agency

The Lions would surely like to keep Kevin Zeitler around, but Pro Football Focus has an early projection that a division rival makes the most sense for him in free agency.

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When the Detroit Lions signed guard Kevin Zeitler to a one-year deal last March, it was easily seen as a great bargain. Then the 13-year veteran went out and showed it, finishing the regular season as Pro Football's No. 3-graded guard overall with the second-best run-blocking grade at the position.

Zeitler will turn 35 just before free agency starts (March 8), and there have been some questions since the Lions' season ended about retirement. But his wife Sarah hinted at "Year 14" on Twitter, which seems like confirmation her husband intends to play next season.

If nothing else, Zeitler has proven he still has plenty left in the tank and he could get a multi-year deal this offseason. The Lions would also, presumably, love to have him back.

During his season-ending press conference on Thursday, Lions general manager Brad Holmes talked about Zeitler and his looming free agency.

"I thought Zeitler did a good job this year,” Holmes said. “It’s different when you’re changing completely different schemes and kind of early on, he kind of had to get used to how we were doing things, but once he got adjusted into that, I thought he did a really good job. A player of that age, you’ve just got to have conversations with him. We had conversations on exit day and then we’ll just continue to have dialogue and just kind of see where it goes.”

Lions' division rival projected as best free agency landing spot for Kevin Zeitler

Zeitler is sure to have multiple suitors in free agency, which might drive the price for the Lions to keep higher than they'd like in terms of money and perhaps years. They also seem to have an internal candidate to replace him at right guard in Christian Mahogany.

Zietler sits at No. 27 in Pro Football Focus' free agent rankings, and within that he is among their top-15 offensive free agents. Writer Mason Cameron has offered some early best landing spots for those top-15 offensive free agents.

"Zeitler will be 35 years old when he hits the open market, but his long track record of sustained success across multiple franchises should warrant looks from decision-makers. With Detroit this season, Zeitler generated the best PFF run-blocking grade of his career (87.2), proving to be a key contributor during the Lions' historic season."

Cameron stayed in the NFC North to offer Zeitler's best landing spot.

"The Vikings need all the help they can muster to halt the constant flow of interior pressure they experienced in 2024, having allowed the highest interior pressure rate (18.8%) in the NFL."

Minnesota surely could use serious upgrades at guard, which has become an annual idea. So Zeitler does make sense as someone they'd target in free agency. It will, as always, come down to what the market bears for him and what he sees as the best fit in the waning years of his career. If financial offers are equal, the Lions may still have an edge that would bring him back for at least one more year-the realistic potential to win the Super Bowl.

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