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\t\t\tApr 6, 2026 at 7:47am\t\t<\/p>\n
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The Detroit Lions have made a sly move in free agency and signed a $27 Million talent from Jim Harbaugh and Chargers.<\/p>\n
If the Detroit Lions<\/a> have any plans to bring back veteran guard Kevin Zeitler in free agency, they may need to beat out a motivated Jim Harbaugh.<\/p>\n Zeitler was a steady presence for the Lions in 2024, starting 16 games and helping anchor a strong offensive line that led to a second straight NFC North title. Zeitler left to join the Tennessee Titans<\/a> after the season, with the Lions seeing a sharp dropoff in the strength of their offensive line.<\/p>\n The Lions have been urged to bring back Zeitler, but one analyst believes Harbaugh may prove to be more motivated.<\/p>\n In an article outlining the top destinations for remaining free agency, Bleacher Report\u2019s Kristopher Knox<\/a> suggested that Zeitler is one of the best guards left on the open market.<\/p>\n \u201cKevin Zeitler has started 213 games in the NFL<\/a> and remains a reliable starting guard,\u201d Knox wrote. \u201cThis past season, Pro Football Focus graded him 13th overall among all guards.\u201d<\/p>\n While Zeitler\u2019s age \u2014 he turned 36 in March \u2014 could be a reason for concern among some teams, Knox predicted that he could be a good fit for Harbaugh and the Los Angeles Chargers<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cZeitler would be a great fit for the Los Angeles Chargers, who are looking to reload their offensive interior. They signed center Tyler Biadasz to man the middle, brought back guard Trevor Penning, and signed guard Cole Strange,\u201d Knox wrote.<\/p>\n Knox suggested that Zeitler would have a starting role ready for him with the Chargers.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile Biadasz is a dependable starter, Zeitler would be an upgrade over Penning or Strange,\u201d Knox wrote. \u201cPro Football Focus\u00a0graded Strange 43rd overall this past season. Penning was graded 65th overall by\u00a0PFF.<\/p>\n \u201cSigning Zeitler might not provide a permanent fix, but it would help ensure the Chargers have one of the league\u2019s better O-lines in 2026.\u201d<\/p>\n Lions Advised to Bring Back Kevin Zeitler<\/p>\n Knox had previously suggested<\/a> that the Lions could bring back Zeitler, hoping to fix some of the struggles that arose during the 2025 season.<\/p>\n \u201cA return to Detroit, where Zeitler played in 2024, would make plenty of sense,\u201d Knox had written. \u201cThe Lions struggled across the offensive line this past season, with Jared Goff taking a career-high 38 sacks.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tNathan Dougherty<\/a> is a sports reporter covering the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins. Previously he wrote for the Rochester Business Journal and served as the assistant editor of athletic trade magazines Coaching Management, Athletic Management and Training & Conditioning. He is based out of Rochester, New York, and loves everything football. More about Nathan Dougherty<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t0 Comments\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tMore Heavy on Lions\n\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\tLoading more stories\n\t\t<\/p>\n Jim Harbaugh could bring former Detroit Lions starter Kevin Zeitler to the Los Angeles Chargers, an analyst predicts.<\/p>\n