Lions and Chargers named possible landing spots for former Titans $9 million starter originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Could the Los Angeles Chargers or Detroit Lions still look to improve the interior of their offensive lines in free agency?
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If you ask Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox, he would say yes.
We know that because Knox recently suggested the Lions and Chargers as possible landing spots for former Tennessee Titans starting guard Kevin Zeitler.
“A return to Detroit, where Zeitler played in 2024, would make plenty of sense. The Lions struggled across the offensive line this past season, with Jared Goff taking a career-high 38 sacks,” Knox said of Zeitler to Detroit.
“The Chargers would also make sense for Zeitler. They released guard Mekhi Becton in a cap-saving move and lost guard Zion Johnson to the Cleveland Browns in free agency,” he added. “While L.A. did re-sign Trevor Penning and add Cole Strange, Zeitler would be an upgrade, especially at right guard.”
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Kevin Zeitler’s 2025 season was impressive
Zeitler signed a one-year, $9 million contract with the Titans last offseason and once again proved to be a reliable starter.
The 36-year-old landed in the top 20 in both Pro Football Focus run-blocking grade (70.8, 20th) and pass-blocking grade (75.4, ninth), showing he’s still got plenty left.
It’s pretty surprising that Zeitler is still available given how coveted starting-caliber offensive linemen are in free agency.
Kevin Zeitler makes sense for Chargers, Lions
The Lions had two youngsters starting at guard in 2025 with Tate Ratledge and Christian Mahogany.
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The former is locked in for 2026, and he won’t be moving to center after the Lions signed Cade Mays. However, the same cannot be said about Mahogany, who struggled mightily in his first full season as a starter.
The Boston College product gave up six sacks, 27 pressures and posted PFF grades of 68.0 in run-blocking and 40.7 in pass-blocking. After allowing 49 sacks as a team, the fourth-most in the NFL, it stands to reason Detroit wants an upgrade.
A potential starting guard duo of Penning and Strange doesn’t inspire confidence for a Chargers team that desperately needs to do a better job protecting Justin Herbert, who got banged up behind a terrible offensive line last season.
Zeitler’s PFF pass-blocking grade was nearly 23 points higher than Penning’s (52.5) and 33 points higher than Strange’s.
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It goes without saying the veteran would be a massive upgrade both the Lions and Chargers. Now, it’ll be interesting to see if either one signs him.
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