In a matter or weeks during the offseason, the Detroit Lions signed wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, right tackle Penei Sewell and quarterback Jared Goff to big contract extensions. A little later came Taylor Decker, then in the span of a few days a couple weeks ago running back David Montgomery and defensive tackle Alim McNeill got contract extensions.
The Lions obviously will have some notable contract extension matters coming down the road, which is the price that gets paid (willingly) when you draft as well as they have and those young players perform like they have.
The Lions made a nice free agency pivot, when it was clear Jonah Jackson was gone, last offseason when the signed veteran guard Kevin Zeitler to a one-year, $6 million deal. He enters Week 8 having committed zero penalties in five games played this season, and he is Pro Football Focus' No. 8-graded guard thus far.
Lions urged to extend Kevin Zeitler during the season
David Kenyon of Bleacher Report has Zeitler on his list of six 2025 free agents who deserve an in-season contract extension,
"This last offseason, Baltimore's salary-cap crunch meant the team wouldn't re-sign offensive guard Kevin Zeitler."
"Well, the Ravens' loss has become the Detroit Lions' gain. After the Lions saw Jonah Jackson leave in free agency, they brought in Zeitler on a one-year contract. The veteran has been a rock-solid starter at right guard. Zeitler's value was painfully apparent in Week 7, too. While he missed the game because of a groin injury, Kayode Awosika started—and struggled—in his place."
"Detroit's offensive line has been a critical part of the team's recent and ongoing rise. Zeitler is the only starting blocker who isn't already under contract for the 2025 season, but the Lions should fix that promptly."
As Kenyon noted, Zeitler missed Week 7 against the Minnesota Vikings due to a groin injury. Kayode Awosika struggled in his place at right guard, picking up three penalties before the first quarter was over and posting an overall PFF grade of 45.6 for the game. By comparison, Zeitler's lowest overall PFF grade in a game this season is 62.1 (Week 1).
Zeitler is 34 years old, so any contract extension likely wouldn't be more than two years. Spotrac currently has his market value at $10.2 million, on a projected one-year deal. Something like that, with 2026 as a void year that could be revisited/re-worked later, looks like the kind of deal that could be done in-season to keep Zeitler in the fold beyond this season.
