Alright, so here’s how it went down with the Lions – right out of the blue, Frank Ragnow decides to call it quits on June 2. Big-time shocker, right? This guy leaving was like pulling out a cornerstone from a Jenga tower. Detroit’s offensive line? Wobbly, to say the least. But hey, they drafted smart, and now they’ve gotta shuffle the deck.
So there’s this rookie, Tate Ratledge, going head-to-head with Graham Glasgow for center. Coach Dan Campbell seemed pretty hyped about Ratledge, saying he looked like a “starting NFL guard” during practice. Can you imagine? All signs are pointing to Ratledge sticking at guard. Glasgow, been there, done that with center duties, might just slip back into the role.
Jump forward to 2025 – everyone’s expecting Ratledge to lock down that RG spot. Kind of a no-brainer if you think about it. Somewhere in a tweet storm from Woodward Sports, there’s Campbell talking about Ratledge like he’s the next big thing.
So, the Lions snatched Ratledge in the second round of the 2025 draft from Georgia. Dude’s got some pretty serious creds – five seasons with the Bulldogs, two-time National champion. When training camp kicked off, he was taking snaps with the starters at center. Fast forward to mid-August – he’s moved over to right guard. At a joint practice with the Dolphins, he was owning that RG spot. Campbell’s practically grinning ear to ear saying, “starting NFL guard” again.
And wait, there’s another tweet from the Lions about the “makings of the Tate Ratledge trade.” I don’t get how tweets influence trades, but there you are.
His preseason kickoff with the Lions against the Falcons? Solid. Fifteen pass-blocking reps, gave up just one pressure. Not too shabby for the new kid on the block. Detroit’s got their fingers crossed he becomes a mainstay on the line. This 2025 season, Taylor Decker and Glasgow are hitting their 10-year mark with Detroit, proving that time flies when you’re knocking heads.
Last year, the Lions were third in the league for rushing yards per game, sitting at 149.4. Thanks largely to Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery bulldozing their way to 28 touchdowns. With Ratledge stepping in, they’re hoping he slots right in, keeping the offensive line as solid as ever. Here’s to hoping!
