Detroit Lions rookie Tate Ratledge is being tapped as a potential replacment to center Frank Ragnow fairly early in his NFL career. Ragnow's retirement sent shockwaves through the league as he was one of the league's premier interior offensive linemen, and as Detroit didn't have an immediate way to backfill his role on the line.
Ratledge, a guard coming over from Georgia, has been earning reps in OTAs at center most frequently, getting more over veterans like Graham Glasgow and Trystan Colon, two guards with experience shifting over to center in their careers. Ratledge is seemingly doing a great job learning the position, though, as it has been reported he's earned the most time at the position in practice.
This makes him a prime breakout candidate for the Lions this season. Offensive linemen don't often get that sort of shine, but when you're a team that rosters one of the best tackles in the NFL in Penei Sewell, it's not unfamiliar territory. Ratledge came out of the draft as someone praised as a hugely impactful rookie - if utilized correctly - by ESPN's Field Yates.
"Lions GM Brad Holmes has made it a point to target reliable and extremely tough players in the draft. That describes Ratledge well. He allowed only one sack in each of the past two seasons at Georgia and exudes toughness on tape. Kevin Zeitler's departure to Tennessee opens a starting guard job in Detroit, and I like Ratledge's chances to fill that role," wrote Yates.
Ratledge a great candidate to have breakout rookie year for Lions
Ratledge told reporters prior to Ragnow's retirement, even, that he'd gotten experience getting reps at center before getting drafted. He's used to cross-training at guard and center from his days with the Bulldogs, so viewing him as a replacement for Ragnow isn't far fetched.
The guard was ranked the second-best available interior offensive lineman available in this year's draft by PFF, and ranked fourth overall amongst guards in the Power Four conferences in run blocking in 2024.
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The guard was taken as a key part of Holmes' push to shore up their trenches, which obviously paid off given Ragnow's shocking retirement. With a team like Detroit, Ratledge is in a great spot to not just develop into a solid center, but into a great one. He already has the run-blocking skills necessary to backfill Ragnow's impact. It's just a matter of getting live reps at center for the rookie to see if he can settle into a new role on the line.
