The Detroit Lions got hit with some tough news this offseason — All-Pro center Frank Ragnow decided to call it a career. That’s a big deal. He’s been a rock in the middle of one of the NFL’s best offensive lines and a true leader in the locker room. But here’s the thing: the Lions weren’t caught off guard.
According to NFL insider Albert Breer, Detroit’s front office saw this coming. Ragnow had been open with the team in the weeks leading up to his announcement, so they had time to think ahead and prepare. And to their credit, they did exactly that.
You could see the writing on the wall during the draft. Detroit grabbed Georgia guard Tate Ratledge in the second round and added Miles Frazier later on. They also still have veteran Graham Glasgow, who can step in at center or guard if needed.
But maybe the biggest move of all? Keeping offensive line coach Hank Fraley around. He’s been a major reason this unit has stayed elite, and now he’s got the job of molding Ratledge and second-year guard Christian Mahogany into the next generation of maulers.
So yeah, losing a player like Ragnow hurts — no doubt. But the Lions didn’t just sit back and hope for the best. They planned for it, and now it’s time to see if those moves pay off.
Lions Saw It Coming: Team Was Ready for Frank Ragnow’s Retirement
