It’s widely known that the Detroit Lions are focusing on both the present and what lies ahead — particularly on the offensive line. And based on observations from rookie minicamp, it appears Tate Ratledge might play a significant role in that future… potentially as Frank Ragnow’s eventual replacement at center.
On Friday morning during rookie minicamp, Lions assistant GM Ray Agnew discussed second-round selection Tate Ratledge, and the enthusiasm surrounding his potential was clear — especially concerning his abilities on the interior offensive line.
“The first thing you notice is his sheer size. He’s a tall, long, big-bodied guy,” Agnew said, via Pride of Detroit. “What really stands out is how versatile he is. He’s capable of playing all the inside positions on the line.”
That flexibility was clearly evident during the walkthroughs on Friday. Jeremy Reisman of Pride of Detroit noted that Ratledge opened team drills as the first-team center in 11-on-11 action. Later, he shifted to right guard while undrafted rookie Leif Fautanu got time at center. Still, Ratledge spent the majority of those reps snapping the ball.
Though Reisman pointed out that Ratledge’s college experience was mostly at guard, he was not entirely unfamiliar with the center position. At Georgia, he played 2,070 offensive snaps — 2,066 at right guard and only four at left — but coaches often had him take practice reps at center.
Even so, transitioning to center in the NFL is a whole new challenge — especially for a rookie adapting to an entirely new system. That the Lions are already giving him center work says a lot about their belief in his mental toughness and football intelligence.
“When you vet these guys during the scouting process, you learn how much they can handle mentally,” Agnew said. “We feel confident both of them can manage everything we ask.” He was speaking about Ratledge and fifth-rounder Miles Frazier, another flexible lineman.
To be clear, Frank Ragnow remains Detroit’s starter — and unless something changes, he’ll be leading the line again in 2025. However, Ragnow, who turns 29 soon, has dealt with multiple injuries over time. Though he’s given no signs of retiring, Detroit is wise to plan ahead.
Just last spring, Ragnow reaffirmed he was “100% committed” to helping the Lions and not thinking about leaving football. Still, the team is preparing for every possible scenario — including what happens if Ragnow’s situation changes in the future.
Ratledge is already earning praise in camp. Whether he ultimately settles in at guard or moves to center full-time, the Lions clearly view him as a foundational part of their long-term plans — and possibly Ragnow’s future replacement in the middle
