By Sunday 
A Fresh Face in a Shifting Trenches Unit
This offseason hit Detroit’s offensive line like a sledgehammer.
First, veteran guard Kevin Zeitler took his talents to Tennessee. Then came the bombshell — All-Pro center Frank Ragnow surprised everyone by hanging up his cleats. Just like that, two sturdy pillars of one of the NFL’s most consistent O-lines were gone.
Now? It’s next man up, and that man might just be Christian Mahogany.
A Small Sample, but Solid Signs
Mahogany didn’t start much in his rookie campaign — just two games. But those snaps gave the Lions something to chew on. The second-year guard held his own against real NFL talent, and that might explain why Detroit felt comfortable letting Zeitler walk.
Dalton Wasserman of Pro Football Focus is buying in. He pegged Mahogany as one of the NFL’s top breakout candidates among offensive linemen heading into the 2025 season. That’s not a small nod — especially for a guy with only two starts under his belt.
But hey, every breakout story starts somewhere.
A Shaky Interior
Let’s not sugarcoat it: Detroit’s O-line isn’t the guaranteed fortress it used to be. Sure, Penei Sewell is still an elite presence at right tackle, and Taylor Decker continues to man the left side with veteran steadiness. But everything inside that sandwich? Up in the air.
Graham Glasgow is aging. Trystan Colon has been serviceable but never dominant. Rookies Tate Ratledge and Giovanni Manu have promise, but no NFL experience. That makes Mahogany the middle ground — young, but tested. Unproven, but promising.
The hope in Detroit is that he’s ready to take that second-year leap from “solid backup” to “cornerstone starter.”
The Stakes Are High
Let’s be real — the Lions aren’t just trying to protect Jared Goff. They’re trying to win a Super Bowl. In the NFC, where a game can be decided by a single missed block or pocket collapse, you need trust in your trenches.
So the Lions are looking at Mahogany like, “Can you be that guy?”
If he rises to the moment, Detroit’s offensive line might remain one of the league’s best — despite all the turnover. If he doesn’t, the ripple effects could be felt in every play Goff makes this season.
Bottom Line
Christian Mahogany doesn’t need to be perfect. He just needs to be ready. With talent around him and a real opportunity in front of him, 2025 might just be the year this young Lion roars.