The Detroit Lions have made plenty of changes this offseason, and the spot that sticks out as most questionable after the dust settled remains the offensive line.
Detroit will break in multiple starters up front this season, including a guard and a center. While they have Penei Sewell and Taylor Decker to anchor the tackle positions, change in the middle of the line could lead to a downturn in 2025.
Pro Football Focus has previously ranked Detroit's line near the top of the league. That rating has taken a serious downturn ahead of this season, with Zoltan Buday ranking them 13th in the league, just above middle-of-the-pack status.
"Perhaps no unit is expected to drop off more in 2025 than the Lions' offensive line. The perennial top-10 unit endured several changes this offseason, losing Frank Ragnow and Kevin Zeitler to retirement and free agency, respectively."
"Christian Mahogany, a 2024 sixth-round pick, is slated to start at one guard spot, and a rookie will likely take the other guard role. Detroit still boasts arguably the best run-blocking right tackle in the league in Penei Sewell, but the interior might still hold back this unit."
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This season, the likes of the Philadelphia Eagles (first), Chicago Bears (fourth), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (sixth), Minnesota Vikings (seventh) and Atlanta Falcons (eighth) rate above the Lions. Even the Carolina Panthers (11th) and San Francisco 49ers (12th) place ahead of Detroit.
In the mind of Buday, nearly the entire NFC has lapped the once-mighty Lions in terms of offensive line ability. Considering Detroit's calling card is protection and physicality, that could be a troubling development, meaning the Lions have to prove themselves all over again.
Hank Fraley expecting multiple Lions' linemen to step up this season
The Lions have plenty of new faces, and in the past, the franchise has been able to work plenty of unkown players into major roles. That's due in part to the work of Fraley, one of the best offensive line coaches in the league.
This year, Fraley will again need to work his magic with others down the roster. On paper, the Lions could be expected to take steps backward. Reality, though, could have them on a different trajectory once training camp concludes and position battles shake out, leaving the franchise plenty of new options.
"I'm greedy. If they want to give me everybody and keep them on the practice squad, I'd love to have them. We're going to breed competition and I think you're going to see the best from all these young men going forward, We got a few months here before the pads really come on. Right now I would say we're in underwear. When those pads come on, they're really going to separate things."
