6 Lions Who Won't Return in 2025 With Season Officially Over

6. Kevin Zeitler, OL

Unlike Skipper, losing Kevin Zeitler would be a big blow to the offensive line. Zeitler signed a one-year, $6 million contract with the Lions last offseason. Adding the 34-year-old and 2023 Pro Bowler to the roster improved what was already one of the best offensive lines in football.

Zeitler put together an excellent year, and he played in all but one regular-season game, showcasing durability despite his age,

Despite Zeitler proving he still has some plenty left in his tank, Detroit may be looking to play one of their young offensive linemen. During the 2024 draft, the Lions selected offensive guard Christian Mahogany in the sixth round.

Mahogany saw his most action this year in Week 16 against the Chicago Bears. In that game,
Mahogany played 66 snaps and finished the day with a 70.4 run-blocking grade and an 82.5 pass-blocking grade. Although it was against a below-average Bears defensive line, that's still great preparation from a sixth-round rookie.

While that may have been the most snaps Mahogany saw in a game all season, he did play in others. As a result, he finished the year with an 82.6 pass-blocking grade and an 80.8. run blocking grade and an 81.6 overall grade

Even though it's a small sample size, it seems like the Lions may have found their next dominant offensive lineman. Thus, it would be no surprise if Zeitler wasn't a Lion in 2025.

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