Jim Harbaugh and Chargers.
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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.
If the Detroit Lions have any plans to bring back veteran guard Kevin Zeitler in free agency, they may need to beat out a motivated Jim Harbaugh.
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 after the season, with the Lions seeing a sharp dropoff in the strength of their offensive line.
The Lions have been urged to bring back Zeitler, but one analyst believes Harbaugh may prove to be more motivated.
In an article outlining the top destinations for remaining free agency, Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox suggested that Zeitler is one of the best guards left on the open market.
“Kevin Zeitler has started 213 games in the NFL and remains a reliable starting guard,” Knox wrote. “This past season, Pro Football Focus graded him 13th overall among all guards.”
While Zeitler’s age — he turned 36 in March — 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.
“Zeitler 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,” Knox wrote.
Knox suggested that Zeitler would have a starting role ready for him with the Chargers.
“While Biadasz is a dependable starter, Zeitler would be an upgrade over Penning or Strange,” Knox wrote. “Pro Football Focus graded Strange 43rd overall this past season. Penning was graded 65th overall by PFF.
“Signing Zeitler might not provide a permanent fix, but it would help ensure the Chargers have one of the league’s better O-lines in 2026.”
Lions Advised to Bring Back Kevin Zeitler
Knox had previously suggested that the Lions could bring back Zeitler, hoping to fix some of the struggles that arose during the 2025 season.
“A return to Detroit, where Zeitler played in 2024, would make plenty of sense,” Knox had written. “The Lions struggled across the offensive line this past season, with Jared Goff taking a career-high 38 sacks.”