By Moses Joshua 
Christian Mahogany Poised for Breakout Role as Lions Rebuild Their Interior Line
As the Detroit Lions gear up for another high-stakes season, the offensive line—long considered the bedrock of the team’s identity—faces a serious shakeup. The unexpected retirement of All-Pro center Frank Ragnow and the free agency departure of veteran guard Kevin Zeitler have left gaping holes in the trenches. Yet, while the spotlight naturally shifts to rookie second-round pick Tate Ratledge, it may be a lesser-known lineman who steps into a starring role.
Christian Mahogany: From Late-Round Flier to Frontline Fix
Selected in the sixth round of the NFL Draft, Christian Mahogany entered the league with minimal fanfare. But inside Detroit’s locker room, the buzz around the former Boston College standout is growing louder by the week. According to Pro Football Focus, Mahogany’s limited but electrifying sample size in 2024 put him in elite company. In just 144 snaps, he posted a 99th percentile grade in true pass-blocking sets and ranked in the 97th percentile in minimizing negatively graded run-blocking plays—a rare dual-threat performance for any offensive lineman, let alone a rookie backup.
Though Mahogany started just one game last season, his tape tells the story of a lineman with the tools to thrive at the NFL level. Powerful yet nimble, he anchors well in pass protection while showing surprising agility for a player who weighs in at a robust 332 pounds. His rapid development has earned the trust of Detroit’s coaching staff, and PFF’s decision to name him to their All-Breakout Team for 2025 feels like more than a projection—it’s a vote of confidence.
Fraley’s Steady Hand a Game-Changer
One constant amidst the Lions’ offseason coaching turnover is offensive line coach Hank Fraley, a trusted figure in Detroit’s development pipeline. Fraley has consistently turned late-round picks and undrafted prospects into reliable starters—think Evan Brown and Jonah Jackson—and Mahogany may be his next success story.
Fraley’s influence is particularly crucial now. With Ragnow’s retirement creating a leadership vacuum and Zeitler’s exit eliminating veteran experience, the Lions need fast learners and tough-minded protectors. Mahogany fits both categories. If he seizes the starting left guard job, it could free up Graham Glasgow to slide over to center—his most natural position—and allow Ratledge to remain at right guard, the spot he played exclusively during his time at Georgia.
A New Era in the Trenches
There’s still competition to sort out in training camp. If Mahogany stumbles, Detroit could reshuffle Glasgow and Ratledge accordingly, leaving the right guard spot up for grabs. But if he lives up to his early promise, Mahogany could go from sixth-round unknown to long-term fixture on one of the NFL’s most physical offensive lines.
“I’m not trying to replace anyone,” Mahogany said earlier this offseason. “I’m just trying to prove I belong—and that I can help this team win.” The quote sums up exactly what the Lions need right now: less flash, more fight.
With camp on the horizon and questions swirling about the line’s cohesion post-Ragnow, don’t be surprised if it’s Christian Mahogany—not the more heralded Ratledge—who ultimately provides the answer in the heart of the offense.