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NFL free agency preview: 5 fits for Detroit Lions at OG if Kevin Zeitler signs elsewhere
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- NFL free agency preview: 5 fits for Detroit Lions at OG if Kevin Zeitler signs elsewhere
Christian Mahogany turned heads when he first got on the practice field during Organized Team Activities as a sixth-round pick last spring.
"(It was) like, 'Man, he looks like … it's not too big for him,'" Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes said after the season. "He just stepped right in and kind of knew what to do."
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Mahogany didn't get the chance to show what he could do in training camp last summer because of a bout of mononucleosis that sent him to the nonfootball injury list for the start of the regular season.
Offensive lineman Christian Mahogany during the Detroit Lions' win over the Chicago Bears in Week 16 of the 2024 NFL season in Chicago.
But the rookie played well enough in two spot starts late in the year – one of them in the Lions' playoff loss to the Washington Commanders – to think he could compete for a starting job on the Lions' offensive line this fall.
Mahogany started at left guard in place of an injured Graham Glasgow in the Lions' Week 16 win over the Chicago Bears and played all 69 offensive snaps at right guard in place of an injured Kevin Zeitler against the Commanders.
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Zeitler shined in his first season with the Lions last fall, but the 34-year-old – he turns 35 this week – is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent when the 2025 league year opens March 12.
More: NFL free agency: Should Detroit Lions sign Jameson Williams to contract extension?
The Lions want Zeitler back and indicated to agents at the NFL combine last week they plan to sign a veteran interior lineman if he does not return. But that won't necessarily preclude Mahogany from being in the starting mix.
Glasgow is coming off a down season and was better at right guard in 2023 before changing positions to accommodate Zeitler. And if the Lions don't retain Zeitler, one of the best guards on the market, there's no guarantee his replacement will win the starting job.
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"When Christian had to take the time off being on NFI, when we returned him, me and Dan (Campbell) were kind of like, 'He's a rookie, he's missed this much time.' The medical staff and the trainers knew he was in good shape physically, but we were like, 'If he can help, he can help. If he can't, (he can't),'" Holmes said. "And he was like – he jumped right in. You could see it noticeably in practice where it's like, 'OK, wow, we've got to get this guy active. Oh, wow.' And so, I think he just has to continue improving, continue to work on his game. I know that he will do that, but I do think that he can make that jump (to competing for a starting job)."
Here are five offensive linemen the Lions could pursue if Zeitler leaves in free agency:
James Daniels , Pittsburgh Steelers
Daniels' profile is similar to a lot of the free agents the Lions have signed under Holmes in that he's relatively young (27 years old) but coming off an injury-shortened season (he tore his Achilles last September) that likely will depress his market value. Daniels started at right guard before his injury last season but has position flexibility having played center in college at Iowa – one of Holmes' go-to programs for draft picks – and early in his NFL career. He could compete for a starting job when healthy and at worst be a do-everything backup on the interior line.
Sep 15, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers guard James Daniels (78) wears a guardian cap in the second half against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Will Hernandez , Arizona Cardinals
Holmes let an interesting nugget slip at the combine when he was talking about the health of the Lions defense, saying he was reminded just how good the unit was when he was "looking at our game vs. Arizona, it was at Week 3 and we were looking at a free agent on the offensive side of the ball." The Cardinals have three starting offensive linemen ticketed for free agency in right tackle Kelvin Beachum (who played for new Lions offensive coordinator John Morton with the New York Jets but did not play in that game), center Evan Brown (who played for the Lions in 2020-22) and Hernandez, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 5. Hernandez started at right guard last season and also has seen time at left guard in his career.
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Brandon Scherff , Jacksonville Jaguars
Another Iowa product, Scherff is similar to Zeitler in that he's nearing the end of a long, successful career but still playing at a high level. Zeitler was coming off a Pro Bowl season when the Lions signed him to a one-year deal last spring. Scherff, a five-time Pro Bowler, is a few years removed from being selected for the game but has shown incredible durability starting all 51 games at right guard for the Jacksonville Jaguars the past three years. He could get a multi-year deal for more money than the Lions are willing to spend in a market that saw the Chicago Bears take on all of Jonah Jackson 's contract, or he could be the Zeitler of this year's free agency.
Mekhi Becton , Philadelphia Eagles
Becton isn't the best guard on the market, but he might be the most intriguing. A converted offensive tackle who played mediocre football for four seasons with the New York Jets , Becton shined as a road-grading right guard for the Super Bowl champions last season. It's tough to envision him leaving Philadelphia and offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland, or getting the type of contract offer that would entice him to leave after one good season. But at 25 years old, he's one of the top guards on the market.
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Aaron Banks, San Francisco 49ers
If the Lions prefer to sign a left guard in free agency, Banks is a young, ascending player who was a key blocker the past three seasons for one of the best rushing offenses in football. He finished the season on injured reserve because of a December knee injury, but should be ready for the start of offseason workouts.
Free agency preview: OL
Lions OTs under contract for 2025: Penei Sewell , Taylor Decker , Gio Manu, Jamarco Jones . Lions IOL under contract for 2025: Frank Ragnow , Graham Glasgow, Christian Mahogany, Netane Muti , Colby Sorsdal , Kingsley Eguakun ,
Lions free agent OTs: Dan Skipper , Connor Galvin * (ERFA). Lions free agent IOL: Kevin Zeitler, Kayode Awosika (RFA), Michael Niese (ERFA).
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Top free agent OTs: Ronnie Stanley , Baltimore Ravens ; Cam Robinson , Minnesota Vikings ; Tyron Smith , New York Jets. Top free agent IOL#: Drew Dalman , Atlanta Falcons ; Will Fries , Indianapolis Colts ; Mekhi Becton, Philadelphia Eagles.
Others to watch for the Lions: IOL: Daniels, Hernandez, Brown. OT: Matt Peart , Denver Broncos .
*The Lions informed Galvin on Tuesday they will not tender him an exclusive rights free agent contract , making him an unrestricted free agent next week.
#The Kansas City Chiefs placed the franchise tag on free agency's top interior offensive lineman, Trey Smith .
Dave Birkett is the author of the book, " Detroit Lions : An Illustrated Timeline." Order your copy here . Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com . Follow him on Bluesky , X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: NFL free agency preview: 5 OG fits for Lions if Zeitler doesn't return
