The 2026 NFL Draft will award compensatory picks to teams that lost top free agents from last year’s class. That includes the Detroit Lions, who saw Kevin Zeitler sign a one-year, $9 million contract with the Tennessee Titans.
How did the Lions get a compensatory pick for Kevin Zeitler
The Lions received a fourth-round pick for letting Zeitler leave in free agency in 2025. That is now the number 181 overall pick in the draft.
What did the Lions do with the compensatory pick from Kevin Zeitler?
The Lions held pick 181 of the draft, but they trade it to the Buffalo Bills alongside 213 for pick 168. They selected WR Kendrick Law.
How was Kevin Zeitler’s performance for the Titans in 2025?
Zeitler was a strong veteran presence for the Titans’ offensive line in 2025, appearing in and starting all but one game for the team. The Titans were in dire need of a right guard, and Zeitler was able to give them what they were looking for, even though the Titans finished with a 3-14 record.
Should the Lions have re-signed Zeitler?
Given Zeitler’s age, the Lions didn’t really miss out on having him for the 2025 season. The Lions replaced him with last year’s second-round pick, Tate Ratledge, and he is the future at the right guard position. Therefore, the Lions made the right decision as they move forward for what’s to come.
What is a compensatory pick?
Compensatory picks are awarded to teams that suffer a net loss of qualifying free agents during the previous year’s free agency period. So 2026 NFL Draft compensatory picks are awarded due to free agents lost in 2025.
Then those players are ranked on the amount of salary, playing time, and a bunch of other criteria and slotted into the end of rounds three through seven.
