49ers linked to free agent to fill out starting O-line after NFL draft
· Yahoo Sports
The San Francisco 49ers waited until the fourth and fifth rounds to address the offensive line in the 2026 draft, perhaps signaling that they see some players in free agency worth picking up ahead of the season. Both of those picks — Carter Willis and Enrique Cruz Jr. — are offensive tackles, too, and the 49ers currently need help at guard.
That's where free agency comes into play. And NFL.com's Matt Okada writes that veteran guard Kevin Zeitler would be a great fit to join the 49ers in 2026.
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The 49ers won seven of their last nine games in 2025, including the playoffs. The only two losses: against Seattle in Week 18 and against Seattle in the Divisional Round. You know, that 41-6 shellacking in which the ‘Hawks pressured Brock Purdy on 39.4 percent of his dropbacks. This offseason, San Francisco lost starting guard Spencer Burford in free agency, so an upgrade on the interior feels important. Zeitler, a 14-year veteran, earned a top-15 overall PFF grade among guards in each of the last two season and is the only still-available guard from Rosenthal’s Top 101. At 36 years old, Zeitler is likely headed for another one-year contract, but the Niners are contenders with a need -- and $44.9 million in cap space -- so it makes a lot of sense. Unless they're comfortable rocking with Dominick Puni and Connor Colby as their starters, Zeitler is a no-brainer add.
Zeitler has been a bit of a journeyman over the past two seasons after a five-year career with the Cincinnati Bengals followed by multiple seasons with the Cleveland Browns, New York Giants and Baltimore Ravens. He started 16 games for the Detroit Lions in 2024 before starting 16 games for Tennessee Titans this past season.
He is, if anything, an experienced player to add to the 49ers' offensive line room. Zeitler isn't an elite lineman anymore, but he is a known commodity at the position. He allowed 16 total pressures in pass protection this past season, including four sacks and two hits to opposing pass rushers, per Pro Football Focus. Zeitler was flagged for 4 penalties over the course of the season.
Signing Zeitler would depend on the deal he wants. He signed for a one-year, $6 million deal in Detroit in 2024 before earning a one-year, $9 million deal in 2025 with Tennessee. The 49ers can afford that with their $41.5 million in effective cap space, per Over The Cap.
To shore up the offensive line in a win-now season, this makes a lot of sense.
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: NFL free agency: Kevin Zeitler, 49ers linked following NFL draft