2025 Chicago Bears Free Agent Target: Kevin Zeitler

Jessica Rapfogel - USA Today Sports

Dustin Riese - Senior Writer - 3 hours ago

With less than a month to go until the free agent period begins, all eyes are on the Chicago Bears and what they will do. This team is coming off another disappointing season to secure a top-10 pick, but it is also entering the offseason with a new head coach set to lead the next great Bears team.

Getting the Bears back to a playoff-caliber team won't be easy, but if anyone can do it, it will be Ben Johnson. Having a top-10 pick will go a long way toward getting the Bears back up to speed quickly, but so will this team's financial status, as they rank in the top 10 regarding available cap space for 2025.

That alone is intriguing, as the Bears have the money to target practically anyone they want and should be extremely active on the free-agent front. However, most of their action is expected to come in the trenches, as the Bears need to shore up both the offensive and defensive lines. What better way to address the offensive line than by hiring a coach who helped create one of the best offensive lines in the game?

Johnson is no stranger to offensive success, but he also knows that a successful offense starts up front, as you are only as good as your offensive line. Many expect the Bears to be in on tons of free-agent options, including Kevin Zeitler, who is mentioned as a strong candidate to join the Bears.

A bit older than you would like to target in free agency, the 34-year-old Wisconsin native has been one of the best guards in the NFL for most of his career and has had previous success playing for Johnson in Detroit. As things currently stand, the Bears are down three and possibly four potential offensive line starters from last season's team, putting the pressure on them to address that area sooner rather than later.

Should the Bears find a way to fill two of those openings in free agency, look for them to find more long-term solutions in the NFL draft, as that will be crucial to the team's success. Not only is Zeitler a guy that can be had in free agency, but given his age, he would be more of a short-term solution for the Bears to plan for the future.

At 6-4 and 332 pounds, Zeitler is not only a load to deal with upfront but also one of the larger guards in the game, which stands out by his play on the field. Even at his age, Zeitler is showing no signs of slowing down, as he was ranked as the third-best guard in the NFL last season. Before that, he spent three years with the Baltimore Ravens, consistently landing in the top 10 among NFL guards.

A big reason for Zeitler's success has been his ability to adapt to how the league is being played. Whether it be a run-first or pass-first offense, Zeitler has seen it all and would fit in well regardless of the system. He also uses his size to dethrone some of the top defenders in the game, as they have a hard time beating him to get after the quarterback.

When you look at the rookie guard class, that could be the weakest of the offensive line groups, which makes adding a guard via free agency likely for this team. Age aside, Zeitler is one of the best options among guards in free agency, and knowing that he is familiar with Johnson and his scheme, he would be a slam-dunk pickup for the Bears on a short one—or two-year deal.