By Moses Joshua 
Signing of Tate Ratledge caps off Lions’ draft class, shoring up offensive line after Ragnow’s retirement
As the countdown to training camp ticks down, the Detroit Lions have taken a decisive step to protect their franchise quarterback, Jared Goff. By officially signing second-round pick Tate Ratledge, the team closes the book on its 2025 draft class—and perhaps opens a new chapter in reshaping the heart of its offensive line.
Ratledge, a hulking interior lineman out of Georgia, inked a four-year, $7.652 million rookie deal on Thursday. The contract includes a $2.21 million signing bonus, according to OverTheCap.com, and arrives on the heels of a weeks-long delay that echoed a broader trend among second-round selections league-wide.
A Delayed Deal Amid League-Wide Negotiations
Ratledge was not alone in waiting. His contract finalization lagged behind expectations as second-rounders across the NFL held out amid shifting norms in rookie guarantees. The wave was sparked by the Houston Texans’ historic move to offer Jayden Higgins a fully guaranteed contract—an uncommon gesture for a Day 2 pick that the Cleveland Browns then echoed for Carson Schwesinger.
While details of Ratledge’s guarantees remain undisclosed, his signing signals stability at a moment of flux for Detroit’s offensive front—especially after the retirement of Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow earlier this offseason.
Replacing a Linchpin in the Trenches
Ragnow’s departure, after seven bruising NFL seasons and two All-Pro nods, left a leadership vacuum in the Lions’ trenches. Though Ratledge spent his college years mauling defenders at right guard and helping Georgia claim back-to-back national championships, Detroit is eyeing him for a potential transition to center.
“He’s an interior player, that’s where I envision him playing,” said offensive line coach Hank Fraley. “Center’s not as natural to him yet, so you definitely are gonna tend to give him more reps at that, snapping the ball to make it more comfortable.”
Fraley’s emphasis on cross-training underscores the team’s strategy: building versatility now to avoid vulnerability later. If Ratledge isn’t ready to take over at center, he will remain in contention for a guard spot, where his college tape and Pro Football Focus grades—74.4 overall offensive, 74.7 run-blocking—speak volumes.
A Smart Investment in the Trenches
The Lions’ confidence in Ratledge was clear on draft night, when the team traded up three spots to select him at No. 57 overall. Despite suffering a Lisfranc injury in 2021, Ratledge returned to anchor Georgia’s offensive line in 2022 and 2023, starting 14 games in a championship-caliber system.
Detroit’s front office sees more than just a depth piece. With Graham Glasgow shifting from left to right guard and rookie Christian Mahogany pushing for a role at left guard, Ratledge enters a high-stakes competition with a chance to claim meaningful snaps early in his rookie campaign.
And for a team with playoff expectations and a quarterback to protect, that opportunity couldn’t come at a better time.