While the Detroit Lions were preparing for the 2025 season with the hopes of making the playoffs for the third year in a row for the first time since 1952-54, they received some tough news, as center Frank Ragnow announced his retirement from the NFL.
The 29-year-old was Detroit's first-round pick in 2018 out of Arkansas, and over the last seven seasons, he made 96 starts in the middle of the team's offensive line, making four Pro Bowls and three All-Pro teams.
Without Ragnow, the Lions may have to move some pieces around to get the best combination to protect Jared Goff and block for the dynamic running back duo of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery.
Ragnow's departure shouldn't change that tackle spots, leaving 2024 Pro Bowler Taylor Decker at left tackle and two time All-Pro Penei Sewell on the right side.
However, the interior is fairly interesting, especially considering Detroit lost starting Kevin Zeitler to the Tennessee Titans in free agency this offseason.
Through the early part of the Lions' offseason program, Christian Mahogany has been getting most of the snaps at left guard. The 2024 sixth-round pick earned All-ACC honors twice at Boston College, but he played just 75 offensive snaps as a rookie (65 at left guard).
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Right guard should be held down by 2025 second-round pick Tate Ratledge, who won two national championships and earned All-American honors twice during his five-year career with the Georgia Bulldogs.
Finally, replacing Ragnow in the middle is the most intriguing decision. While Ratledge has seen opportunities at center in OTAs, Graham Glasgow probably makes the most sense for the job. The 32-year-old was the team's starting left guard in 2024 after taking snaps at all three interior spots in his first year in Detroit in 2023.
With 2,611 NFL snaps in the middle, Glasgow has shown that he can be a capable center in the NFL. While the loss of an All-Pro center is certainly a downgrade, they at least have some pieces to try and make this work for a year.
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