By Sunday 
Sometimes the Best Insurance Becomes the MVP
When the Detroit Lions used valuable draft capital on interior offensive linemen this year, it raised more than a few eyebrows. Critics questioned the move, arguing the Lions should have prioritized pass rush depth to support Aidan Hutchinson. Instead, they doubled down on the offensive line—drafting Tate Ratledge in the second round and Miles Frazier in the fifth.
At the time, it looked like Detroit was playing it safe. Today? It looks like they were playing 4D chess.
The Ragnow Bombshell
Veteran center Frank Ragnow, the heartbeat of the Lions’ offensive line and a four-time Pro Bowler, shocked fans and the league by announcing his retirement at just 29 years old. Citing a long list of nagging injuries, Ragnow decided to step away while he still could—leaving a massive hole in the middle of Detroit’s top-ranked offense.
Suddenly, those “depth pieces” the Lions drafted became much more than insurance. They became potential starters.
Next Man Up: Can Ratledge or Frazier Fill the Void?
With free agency options dwindling, the Lions are turning their attention inward. Word from OTAs is that Ratledge has already been taking reps at center—despite primarily playing guard in college. That’s not by accident.
Though Graham Glasgow remains an option, his prior stint at center with the Broncos wasn’t exactly headline-worthy. That means Ratledge could find himself thrown into the fire sooner than expected. And if he’s tapped as the starter for Week 1, you can bet his contract situation will heat up fast—likely approaching first-round money, even though he was technically a second-round pick.
Frazier, meanwhile, remains a developmental piece, but don’t be surprised if he’s called upon as well. The Lions need flexibility, and fast.
Smart or Lucky? Maybe Both.
Did Brad Holmes and the Lions front office know something we didn’t? Probably not. But their draft strategy, which looked puzzling at the time, now looks eerily prescient. In a league where fortunes can flip overnight, it turns out playing it safe on the interior line was anything but conservative.
Detroit still has time to sort out its starting five before the season kicks off, but one thing’s clear: the Lions’ questionable draft just became a whole lot smarter.
And with their offensive line’s future hanging in the balance, Ratledge and Frazier might just be the unlikely heroes no one saw coming.