The Detroit Lions are making sure their offensive line stays among the NFL’s best — not just for today, but well into the future.
General manager Brad Holmes summed it up perfectly when he said, “You’ve got to keep the whole garden watered.” That’s why Detroit grabbed two linemen in the 2025 NFL Draft: Georgia guard Tate Ratledge in Round 2 and LSU’s Miles Frazier in Round 5. Both will now compete with Christian Mahogany and veteran Graham Glasgow for starting guard spots, though Ratledge seems like the early favorite.
But the Lions aren’t stopping there. Holmes made it clear that offensive line coach Hank Fraley will cross-train these rookies at center, just to see who’s got the skills and communication chops needed to possibly take over in the middle. “It’s not just about snapping — it’s about elite communication,” Holmes said.
Why all this planning? Because center Frank Ragnow, one of the league’s best, turns 29 this month and has dealt with his share of injuries. While Ragnow is under contract through 2026 and retirement isn’t around the corner, the Lions are wisely looking ahead. Second-year lineman Kingsley Eguakan, who spent last year on the practice squad, and undrafted rookie Leif Fautanu are already in the mix as potential future centers.
Bottom line: the Lions know that to keep their offense humming, they need to start grooming Ragnow’s eventual successor now — and they’re wasting no time getting to work.
