By Sunday 
The Detroit Lions didn’t sit back and let the board come to them Friday night—they leapt up, put their chips in, and walked away with a bruiser. With the 57th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Detroit selected Georgia guard Tate Ratledge, after swapping picks with the Broncos. The cost? Picks 60 and 130 for 57 and 230. Not exactly highway robbery, but a calculated move that screams, “We’ve got our guy.”
A Mauler with Mileage
At 6-foot-7, 308 pounds, Ratledge is built like a refrigerator with a mean streak—and he’s got the résumé to back it up. Starting 37 games at Georgia, he’s faced SEC-level chaos week in and week out and come out standing tall. That’s not just impressive; that’s NFL-ready toughness.
And while he’s the fourth guard off the board, don’t let that fool you. He’s no consolation prize. In fact, according to PFF, he’s graded out as the fourth-best guard in pass protection since 2022—so he’s more than just muscle in the trenches. He’s technical, poised, and dependable.
Inside the Lions’ Trenches
This wasn’t a panic pick—it was smart football. The Lions’ interior line is in flux. Graham Glasgow has been trending downward, and Kevin Zeitler dipped in free agency, opening the door for Christian Mahogany to step up. But with Ratledge entering the fold, suddenly that door is part of a three-way competition.
It’s a problem most teams would kill to have: too many solid interior linemen. Whether Ratledge wins the starting job this year or slowly rotates in like Mahogany did in 2024, the Lions have insulated themselves. They’re no longer tethered to aging veterans or backed into a corner come 2026.
As the old saying goes: depth on the O-line is like money in the bank—you don’t always need it, but when you do, you’ll be glad it’s there.
Value, Vision, and a Little Bit of Swagger
Personally, I’m not usually a fan of trading up. But this? This feels like a rare exception that justifies itself. A late-fourth-rounder to secure a guy who could easily have gone Day One? That’s a small price to pay for peace of mind—and future flexibility.
Tate Ratledge fits the mold of what the Lions are building: a gritty, smart, battle-tested player with immediate upside and long-term value. He doesn’t need to be rushed into action, but he’s got the tools to start from Day One if needed.
Final Grade: A
No fluff, no overthinking. Just a rock-solid addition to the offensive line that strengthens the Lions today and secures them options tomorrow.
Now it’s your turn:
How would you grade the Tate Ratledge pick?
A | B | C | D | F
Sound off in the comments—we know you’ve got takes.