As the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks prepare for Super Bowl 2026, the Detroit Lions are already focusing on building a stronger roster for next season. One of the team’s biggest offseason priorities? Upgrading the offensive line.

Lions’ Offensive Line Needs a Major Overhaul

The Lions’ offensive line struggled in 2025, highlighted by the retirement of Frank Ragnow and inconsistent play from Graham Glasgow. The situation worsened when veteran tackle Dan Skipper announced his retirement, leaving Detroit thin in key positions.

According to Christian Booher of SI.com, the Lions should target Baltimore Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum if he hits free agency.

“For Detroit, a logical option could be to sign Baltimore Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum in free agency if he does not agree to a new contract,” Booher said. “Linderbaum has been named to three straight Pro Bowls and at age 26 could be a nice long-term solution. With the Lions’ identity being based around the run game, having a player like Linderbaum in the middle would be massive.”

Why Tyler Linderbaum Makes Sense for Detroit

Adding Tyler Linderbaum would relieve pressure on the Lions’ young offensive linemen, including Tate Ratledge and Christian Mahogany. Ratledge, who spent significant time at center in training camp, started every game as a rookie at right guard—a challenging transition for any first-year player.

“Linderbaum would also take the pressure off of young players like Tate Ratledge and Christian Mahogany,” Booher explained.

If Linderbaum joins Detroit alongside Taylor Decker, the Lions could boast three Pro Bowl-caliber starters on their offensive line, instantly boosting the team’s run game and overall offensive efficiency.

Linderbaum’s Impressive Career & Potential Contract

Selected 25th overall in the 2022 NFL Draft, Linderbaum has started all 66 games of his career and earned three consecutive Pro Bowl selections. His next contract could exceed $70 million, making him one of the most sought-after offensive linemen in free agency.

Lions Await Taylor Decker’s Future

Detroit also continues to await news on Taylor Decker’s potential retirement. Following the regular season finale against the Chicago Bears, Decker hinted that stepping away from the game might be necessary due to mental and physical challenges.

“I just want to get away because it’s been really challenging for me mentally… I just need to get away,” Decker said.

Decker’s decision will play a critical role in shaping Detroit’s offensive line strategy for 2026.