At his season-ending press conference, Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes made it clear the offensive line will always be a priority.
"I just think you've got to keep the whole garden watered at all points," Holmes said. "And so, it's going to be the whole unit, because I mean, that is – that's the engine for us...And so, I don't care how good we ever get on the offensive line, that one right there is too important for not only our team, our quarterback, everything, it's our identity, man. So, I think just that alone is just – it's always going to be at the forefront."
The Lions have just one free agent along the offensive line-guard Kevin Zeitler. But after signing a one-year, $6 million deal last offseason, a strong 2024 season has lined him up for a nice multi-year pay day if he wants it. Elsewhere, left guard Graham Glasgow is north of 30 and he is coming off a rough season. Center Frank Ragnow does not appear close to retiring, but he is getting up in age too and a succession plan behind him might be nice to have.
There's an angle where Glasgow could be a cap casualty this offseason, but it's more likely competition is added for him or Christian Mahogany unseats him as the Lions' starting left guard. If Mahogany is not tasked with replacing a departed Zeitler at right guard, that is.
The Lions could be looking to replace both of their starting guards this offseason. Mahogany is an obvious/likely internal replacement candidate, but there are general questions there right now. And even if Zeitler is back, he will turn 35 just before free agency starts (March 8).
Lions got with small school stud to infuse offensive line with youth
ESPN's Field Yates had the Lions taking an offensive lineman in the first round of an early 2025 mock draft, and he went back to that well (with a different player) in his post-Super Bowl first round mock.
Yates had the Lions taking North Dakota State guard/center Grey Zabel at pick No. 28.
"Zabel had a great week at the Senior Bowl that had me thinking about cornerback Quinyon Mitchell in 2024. Like Mitchell did before the 2024 draft, Zabel dominated at a lower college level and then looked every bit the part against top competition at the all-star event. Zabel projects as an interior player in the NFL, which is the only part of the Lions' offense that looks at all vulnerable on paper going into 2025. He is powerful, marries his quick feet with active hands in pass protection and is ridiculously tough -- he plays like a Lion."
Zabel stood out down in Mobile at the Senior Bowl, with reps at both guard spots to go with the ramp up in competition. He only played left tackle over his final season at North Dakota State, and was excellent (93.1 PFF pass blocking grade, 90.4 overall PFF grade). He primarily played right tackle in 2023, but with less than ideal measurements for an NFL offensive tackle he projects to the inside at the next level and he saw action there in college too.
In his post-Super Bowl mock, Mike Renner of CBS Sports also has the Lions taking Zabel at No. 28.
"The Lions may be looking for starters at both guard positions this offseason. The good news is that Grey Zabel proved at the Senior Bowl that he could play both. There's little chance GM Brad Holmes will let his dominant offensive line backslide."
Zabel is drawing comparisons to Graham Barton, who was taken 26th overall in last year's draft by the Buccaneers and made a full transition to the inside (center) as a rookie last season after playing multiple positions in college at Duke. Zabel may not have be an immediate starter for the Lions as things look right now, but there's a chance he would and he does seem like a player they would like a lot.
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