Options for NFL teams needing a guard this offseason are disappearing fast, and free agency hasn’t even officially started. That’s not ideal news for the Detroit Lions.

The latest move involves a former Pro Bowler who once played for the Lions and is now heading to a division rival.

Per Adam Schefter, the Los Angeles Rams are trading Jonah Jackson to the Chicago Bears for a sixth-round pick.

Jackson started his career in Detroit before joining the Rams last offseason.

There had been some hope Jackson would enter what’s shaping up to be a shallow free agent guard market.

That group has already lost Zack Martin to retirement and Trey Smith to the franchise tag.

Many of the top free agent guards still available carry serious injury concerns.

James Daniels tore his Achilles last season. Will Fries fractured his tibia to end his year. Teven Jenkins played a career-high 14 games in 2024, but that’s the most he’s managed in any of his first four seasons.

Fortunately for the Lions, they have a chance to secure a reliable guard before free agency begins.

Kevin Zeitler spent 2024 with the Lions and proved to be a steady presence on one of the NFL’s best offensive lines.

Now, Zeitler is close to returning to free agency just a year after signing a $6 million deal with Detroit.

The Lions shouldn’t allow that to happen.

One key reason the Lions have become a contender is their offensive line, which has been dominant in recent years.

That line was a force once again in 2024, and Zeitler played a critical role in its success.

Pro Football Focus ranked him among the top run blockers at guard, and Detroit’s running game was a major driver of their offensive production last season — a trend they’ll want to continue in 2025.

The Lions do have an in-house option in Christian Mahogany, a sixth-round pick last year who impressed as a rookie. But trusting a player with just two career starts on such an important line is a gamble.

By re-signing Zeitler, the Lions would secure their line for 2025 while giving Mahogany another year to develop into a long-term answer.

There’s no need for the Lions to go hunting for a guard in a weak free agent pool when they already have a proven starter they can lock down right now.