The Detroit Lions will have to adapt to a lot of changes this upcoming season. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn both took head coaching jobs and with many of their assistants going with them, Detroit will have a lot of new faces leading the way alongside head coach Dan Campbell.
The good news for the Lions is that they have a lot of the players back from a group that went to the NFC Championship Game in 2023 and posted a 15-2 record in 2024. But that group received a jolt of their own when a longtime veteran chose to leave the team this offseason.
While there’s no animosity, it still leaves a big hole and a headache for the Lions as they prepare for training camp.
Frank Ragnow’s Departure Presents a Major Question for Lions in 2025
The Lions offensive line was thrown a curveball when center Frank Ragnow announced his retirement on June 2. A four-time Pro Bowler and a three-time second-team All-Pro selection, Ragnow became one of the best centers in the NFL during his seven-year career. But with a focus on his long-term health, Ragnow decided to hang up the cleats at the age of 29.
There isn’t animosity towards Ragnow for his decision – the man once played with a broken throat after all – but it creates a massive problem for the Lions in the trenches. Detroit already lost starting right guard Kevin Zeitler in free agency and now has to figure out a way to fill two holes along the offensive line.
This is a problem considering how the Lions have built their team. While fans have gravitated to playmakers like Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and Jahmyr Gibbs, Campbell’s first draft pick was offensive tackle Penei Sewell in 2021. Taylor Decker has also been a fixture since arriving in the first round of the 2016 draft and the interior has been shuffled in recent years.
The biggest problem for the Lions following Ragnow’s retirement is who is going to play center.
While the timing of the decision seemed odd, Brad Holmes seemed prepared, taking Tate Ratledge in the second round. Ratledge played guard at Georgia but was immediately cross-trained at center during May's rookie minicamp. With Ragnow’s departure official, it gives Ratledge a chance to start right away but could also open the door to growing pains.
The Lions also need to figure out what happens at guard. Graham Glasgow has the inside track to start on the right side to replace Zeigler and Christian Mahogany will battle with fifth-round draft pick Miles Fraizer on the right side. The finished result is that three interior spots will be battled for during training camp when the Lions entered OTAs with just one.
If there’s one team that can figure out how to produce offensive linemen, it may be the Lions. Still, with Ragnow’s shocking retirement, this situation is a storyline worth keeping an eye on heading into training camp.
