Jonah Jackson’s move to the Chicago Bears is a reminder of how quickly the NFL landscape can shift—and why the Detroit Lions must act fast to secure their offensive line. With free agency approaching and the market for quality guards looking thin, re-signing Kevin Zeitler should now be a top priority for Detroit.
Jackson, a former Pro Bowler for the Lions, spent just one season with the Los Angeles Rams before being traded for a sixth-round pick. Injuries derailed his time in LA, but now he’s back in the NFC North, reuniting with former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who is now the Bears’ head coach. Meanwhile, the Lions are left to consider how to solidify their own interior offensive line.
The free-agent guard market was already lacking depth before Jackson’s trade. Zack Martin retired, and Trey Smith was franchise-tagged by the Chiefs. Other remaining options come with major concerns—James Daniels is recovering from a torn Achilles, Will Fries suffered a broken tibia, and Teven Jenkins has struggled to stay healthy throughout his career. With limited quality alternatives, the Lions must look internally, and Zeitler is the most logical answer.
Zeitler, who signed a one-year, $6 million deal with the Lions last season, proved to be a steadying force on an elite offensive line. He was one of Pro Football Focus’ highest-graded run blockers and played a key role in a rushing attack that was central to Detroit’s offensive success. With the Lions looking to make another deep playoff run, keeping their offensive line intact is crucial.
Detroit does have a young option in Christian Mahogany, who was drafted in the sixth round last year and showed promise in limited action. However, relying on a second-year player with just two career starts to replace a proven veteran is a risky move. Bringing Zeitler back would allow Mahogany to continue developing while ensuring the Lions don’t take a step backward in the trenches.
If Detroit lets Zeitler hit the open market, they risk losing him to another team in desperate need of interior line help. Given his reliability and fit within the system, the Lions should move quickly to lock him in before free agency begins. With the window for a championship push wide open, keeping their offensive line strong needs to be a top priority.
Jonah Jackson Trade Creates Urgency for Lions to Retain Key $6M Free Agent
