Can Tate Ratledge Be the Lions’ New Anchor in the Trenches? Let’s Talk Tape.
Next up in the Lions’ rookie deep dive: Tate Ratledge, a 6’6″, 308-pound slab of offensive lineman straight outta Georgia. Detroit grabbed him with the 57th pick in the draft after moving up to get him and they’re not just thinking “depth.” They’re thinking “starter,” maybe even center of the future now that Frank Ragnow’s retired.
Ratledge isn’t just big he plays like he wants to drive defenders into the turf and then let them know about it. He’s mean in the best way, and he’s got the freaky athleticism to back it up (RAS score: 9.96, which is elite). Brad Holmes and the gang clearly think Hank Fraley can mold this dude into something special, and with a hole in the middle of the O-line, that process might be on the fast track.
Pass Protection: Eyes Up, Head on a Swivel
Ratledge sees things coming before they happen. Against Kentucky, when the D-line tried to pull some fancy movement up front, he and the line shut it down. He doesn’t just block his guy—he thinks two steps ahead.
Same deal versus Ole Miss: linebacker creeping up late? No problem. Ratledge spots him, picks him up, and takes care of business. You love to see that awareness from a young lineman.
Hands Like Vices
One thing that jumps off Ratledge’s film? Grip strength. Once he locks onto a defender’s chest, that guy isn’t going anywhere. Against Auburn, you can see him shoot his hands, drop his hips, and completely stall a bull rush. It’s clean, powerful, and looks NFL-ready already.
And in the run game? Same story. Once he gets ahold of a linebacker or DB, it’s game over. He’s not just blocking he’s displacing people. One Kentucky defender probably still has nightmares about getting pancaked into next week.
Raw Power That Pops
Watch Ratledge come off the ball and you’ll see raw power in motion. He can move defenders several yards upfield like they’re on wheels. One rep that blew up for reasons outside his control still showed him moving a guy way off his spot. That kind of force changes running lanes real fast.
Smart Enough to Pass the Test
One of the subtler things Ratledge does well? Handling stunts and pass-off situations. These are the moments that separate college stars from pro-ready linemen. Against Auburn, he passed off a twisting D-lineman with perfect timing, keeping the pocket clean and giving his QB a chance to make a play.
What Comes Next?
Physically, this guy is ready to roll. Mentally? That’ll be the challenge. NFL speed, pre-snap calls, and helping vet Graham Glasgow and Jared Goff read defenses—that’s where the learning curve lives.
But if training camp goes well, Ratledge could seriously fast-track his development. Whether he starts at guard or gets a crash course at center, he’s going to play a big role early on.
Bottom line: Ratledge is a tone-setter. Tough, smart, nasty and possibly the guy who keeps Detroit’s offensive line nasty for years to come.
Lions Eyeing Tate Ratledge to Anchor the Line – Is He Built for It?
