When Frank Ragnow announced he was stepping away from football ahead of the 2025 season, it felt like the floor dropped out from under Detroit’s offensive line. Ragnow wasn’t just a starter — he was the anchor, the stabilizer, the player who made everything up front function smoothly. Losing someone like that isn’t something you “fix” overnight. At best, you manage the damage and hope to rebuild over time.

Unfortunately, the Lions never truly found their footing afterward.
Sliding Graham Glasgow into the center role left Detroit’s offensive front noticeably diminished throughout the 2025 campaign. That’s not an indictment of Glasgow as a player. The issues ran deeper.

Losing Kevin Zeitler in free agency and Christian Mahogany to injury thinned the guard rotation significantly, compounding the problem. Still, great offensive lines are built around elite interior play, and the Lions went from having one of the league’s premier centers to struggling badly at the position.

The numbers back it up. Pro Football Focus ranked Glasgow 34th out of 40 qualifying centers, giving him a 57.4 overall grade. That’s not a small regression — it’s a dramatic one.
If Detroit wants Jared Goff to operate at his best and reclaim its identity as a physically imposing offense, continuing to overlook the center position simply isn’t an option.
That hole must be filled.

And if a rare opportunity arises?
Detroit should be prepared to spend big on Tyler Linderbaum.
Why Tyler Linderbaum Should Top Detroit’s Wish List
Linderbaum checks every box the Lions are missing right now:
• Highly intelligent
• Powerful at the point of attack
• Athletic enough to reach the second level
• Dominant in the run game
• Dependable in pass protection
At just 25 years old, Linderbaum has already earned three Pro Bowl selections and established himself as one of the league’s premier interior linemen. Players of his caliber almost never become available.
But this one might.

Baltimore declined Linderbaum’s fifth-year option due to a strange salary classification rule that groups centers with all offensive linemen. That pushed the projected 2026 cost to roughly $23.4 million.

The franchise tag presents a similar challenge, making retention significantly more expensive for the Ravens than expected.
In simple terms: keeping Linderbaum would require a major financial commitment.
That’s exactly where Detroit should be paying attention.

Baltimore is known for smart roster management, and odds are they’ll try to find a long-term solution. Teams rarely let elite centers walk. But if negotiations drag out, if tag complications arise, or if Linderbaum briefly hits free agency?
Brad Holmes needs to act immediately.

No bargain hunting. No waiting for market prices to cool. No hesitation.
Just pay him.
Because elite centers — the kind Ragnow was and Linderbaum is — change everything.
Why Spending Big Still Makes Sense for Detroit
Yes, the Lions’ salary cap situation is tight.

Major contracts for Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jared Goff, Aidan Hutchinson, Kerby Joseph, and Jameson Williams have stretched the budget. Detroit will need to restructure deals and make tough choices.
But if there’s one place to commit significant resources, it’s the offensive line.

Especially when your quarterback relies on timing and clean pockets.
Especially when your offensive philosophy is built around balance, toughness, and control at the line of scrimmage.
Especially when the offense unraveled the moment that foundation disappeared.

Adding Linderbaum would instantly:
• Improve pass protection
• Revitalize the run game
• Restore confidence up front
• Prolong Goff’s effectiveness
• Re-establish Detroit’s physical identity
That’s not a flashy luxury move.
That’s a franchise-altering correction.
Maybe Baltimore locks him up and this scenario never materializes.

But if Tyler Linderbaum becomes available — even briefly — the Lions should recognize the moment for what it is: a rare chance to secure a cornerstone player who could redefine the offensive line for years to come.

If Detroit truly wants to reclaim its dominance in the trenches, this isn’t a move to consider cautiously.
It’s one they should be willing to spend whatever it takes to make.