Schedule quirk will allow Detroit Lions’ new offensive line to gel early

With Frank Ragnow now retired, the Detroit Lions will be breaking in at least two new starters on the interior offensive line — and potentially three at new positions, depending on where Graham Glasgow lands. That’s the new reality for offensive line coach Hank Fraley and assistant Steve Oliver. Fortunately, the Lions have been preparing for this possibility, investing in the offensive line the last few draft cycles.

The tackle spots are set in stone. Taylor Decker and Penei Sewell form one of the league’s best bookends. Decker’s 131 career starts are fifth-most by a Lions offensive lineman in the Super Bowl era. Sewell, meanwhile, already has more first-team All-Pro nods (two) in his first four seasons than any Lions lineman earned in an entire career. While the interior will be unproven, this unit will lean on those franchise pillars early.

The three interior jobs will likely be decided during training camp and early-season action, with Christian Mahogany, Tate Ratledge, Graham Glasgow, and free-agent addition Trystan Colon expected to battle for starting roles. Depth options like Kayode Awosika, Netane Muti, Miles Frazier, Kingsley Eguakun, Michael Niese, and Colby Sorsdal will also push for reps and roster spots. From Week 15 through the Divisional Playoffs, Christian Mahogany was PFF’s second-highest-graded interior offensive lineman—while Graham Glasgow ranked 83rd.

Luckily, Detroit’s new-look interior won’t be thrown straight into the fire right away. The early-season schedule provides a relatively forgiving runway to build cohesion. The Lions will have five weeks to settle in before a more punishing stretch that includes Steve Spagnuolo’s Chiefs, Todd Bowles’ Buccaneers, and Brian Flores’ Vikings—three of the league’s most aggressive blitzing defenses in 2024—all in a three-game span from Weeks 6–9 (with a Week 8 bye).

Below, I’ll break down everything Lions fans need to know about the defenses the Detroit interior will face in those crucial first five games. Statistics listed are from the 2024 regular season.

Week 1: @ Green Bay Packers

• Points/Game allowed: 19.9 (6th)
• Defensive success rate: 54.1% (18th)
• Defensive EPA/play: 0.07 (4th)
• Pressure rate: 35.2% (13th)
• Third down conversion rate: 33.1% (T-11th)
• Blitz rate: 17.3% (29th)
• Defensive coordinator/play caller: Jeff Hafley (2nd Season)
• Notable interior defensive linemen: Kenny Clark, Devonte Wyatt, Colby Wooden, Karl Brooks
• Notable off-ball linebackers: Edgerrin Cooper, Quay Walker, Isaiah McDuffie, Isaiah Simmons, Ty’Ron Hooper

Jeff Hafley had a strong debut season as Green Bay’s defensive play-caller, transitioning from his single-high roots at Boston College to a more balanced approach. He brought stability to a unit overloaded with former first-round talent—something Joe Barry never quite managed. The Packers rarely blitz (29th in blitz rate), instead relying on coverage disguise and front-four pressure to create havoc.

Defensive tackle T.J. Slaton’s departure could leave a void in Green Bay’s run defense early on, but Kenny Clark remains a dependable anchor in the middle despite a step-back in 2024 performance. Devonte Wyatt has flashed, though inconsistently, while Colby Wooden and Karl Brooks provide rotational upside, with Brooks occasionally showing promising pass rush chops.

Linebacker Edgerrin Cooper exceeded expectations right away as a rookie, and Quay Walker enters a pivotal contract year after the team declined his fifth-year option. Isaiah McDuffie is a steady, if unspectacular, depth piece, and there has already been the annual offseason lauding for this finally being the year and the right fit for former first-rounder Isaiah Simmons. Last year’s third-rounder Ty’Ron Hopper essentially redshirted as he acclimated to the NFL game.

All told, the Packers’ interior defense is solid, but not overwhelming. Their conservative blitz tendencies make them a worthy, but manageable, Week 1 test for Detroit’s reworked interior offensive line.

Week 2: vs Chicago Bears

• Points/Game allowed: 21.8 (13th)
• Defensive success rate: 53.1% (21st)
• Defensive EPA/play: 0.02 (12th)
• Pressure rate: 36.8% (8th)
• Third down conversion rate: 33.1% (T-11th)
• Blitz rate: 24.9% (16th)
• Defensive coordinator/play caller: Dennis Allen (1st Season in Chicago, 9th Season as NFL DC)
• Notable interior defensive linemen: Gervon Dexter Sr., Grady Jarrett, Andrew Billings, Shemar Turner
• Notable off-ball linebackers: Tremaine Edmunds, T.J. Edwards, Ruben Hyppolite II

Dennis Allen—a former college teammate, graduate assistant, and New Orleans staffmate of Dan Campbell—is a more accomplished defensive coordinator than head coach. While Chicago ranked middle-of-the-pack in blitz rate last season, Allen’s Saints ranked just 24th in blitz frequency over the past five years (23.0%), signaling a preference for pressure with four.

The Bears have quietly assembled a promising interior rotation. Gervon Dexter enters a pivotal third season after making noticeable strides in Year 2. Chicago made a splash by signing longtime Falcons veteran Grady Jarrett—though his 2024 tape showed decline as both a run defender and pass rusher. Andrew Billings provides stout rotational value at nose tackle and flashed some pass-rush juice last season before suffering a torn pectoral in Week 9. Rookie second-rounder Shemar Turner brings explosive traits and could carve out a role as a pass-rushing disruptor early while high-priced free agent Dayo Odeyingbo will likely slide inside at times and do the same.

Behind them, Chicago boasts one of the league’s most expensive linebacker duos in Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards. Both are looking to bounce back after disappointing 2024 campaigns that fell short of their 2023 performances. Edmunds has the length and athleticism to erase passing lanes, though he can be deficient against the run, while Edwards is a fundamentally sound, high-effort tackler. With Jack Sanborn cut loose, depth is thin—rookie Ruben Hyppolite II is next in line and was considered a surprising Day 3 selection by most analysts.

With Chicago’s interior still finding its identity and Allen unlikely to dial up heavy pressure, this is the kind of matchup where Mahogany and Ratledge can solidify their roles, Glasgow can reassert value, and the staff can start identifying who’s ready for the long haul.

Week 3: @ Baltimore Ravens

• Points/game allowed: 21.2 (9th)
• Defensive success rate: 56.1% (7th)
• Defensive EPA/play: 0.02 (13th)
• Pressure rate: 33.0% (21st)
• Third down conversion rate: 40.3% (28th)
• Blitz rate: 17.0% (30th)
• Defensive coordinator/play caller: Zach Orr (2nd Season)
• Notable interior defensive linemen: Nnamdi Madubuike, Travis Jones, Broderick Washington, Aeneas Peebles, John Jenkins
• Notable off-ball linebackers: Roquan Smith, Trenton Simpson, Teddye Buchanan

Zach Orr’s debut season as Baltimore’s defensive coordinator was a tale of two halves. From Weeks 9–18, the Ravens allowed just 16.9 points per game (first), led the league in success rate (59.6%), and ranked top-three in both EPA/play and third-down defense. Their pass rush also surged down the stretch, finishing with a 36.8% pressure rate over that span (seventh). Orr poses a particularly tricky challenge for Detroit’s new-look interior, given his adept use of simulated pressures to generate confusion and get after the quarterback while still keeping a high-number of players in coverage.

The Ravens defense will likely be the toughest early-season test for Detroit’s reshaped interior—and Nnamdi Madubuike will be the most talented defensive tackle foe. Madubuike has averaged 9.75 sacks, 25 quarterback hits, and 69 total pressures over the last two seasons. Nose tackle Travis Jones has emerged as a powerful run defender and flashes as a secondary pocket-collapser, while veteran Broderick Washington returns as a starter but hasn’t offered much beyond baseline production. The retirement of the long-time massive mound in the middle, Michael Pierce, leaves John Jenkins as a downgrade at backup nose tackle. Rookie Aeneas Peebles, though undersized, brings energy and interior burst in passing situations and could earn rotational snaps as the season progresses.

Behind them, Roquan Smith continues to anchor the second level and is one of only three players to earn First-Team All-Pro honors each of the last three seasons. His impact dipped slightly in 2024 without Patrick Queen, and his new running mate remains unsettled. Trenton Simpson was relegated to a backup role down the stretch, after starting each game before their Week 14 bye week, and he only played on special teams in the postseason. Rookie Teddye Buchanan will compete for snaps, and while his run defense needs refinement, his athleticism and coverage upside give him a path to early playing time. Remaining depth behind them is thin.

A primetime trip to Baltimore won’t just be Detroit’s toughest test in the first five weeks—it could be a litmus test for how quickly their interior offensive line is coalescing.

Week 4: vs Cleveland Browns

• Points/game allowed: 25.6 (T-27th)
• Defensive success rate: 57.5% (3rd)
• Defensive EPA/play: 0.03 (11th)
• Pressure rate: 41.7% (1st)
• Third down conversion rate: 31.6% (T-3rd)
• Blitz rate: 27.6% (11th)
• Defensive coordinator/play caller: Jim Schwartz
• Notable interior defensive linemen: Mason Graham, Maliek Collins, Mike Hall Jr., and Shelby Harris
• Notable off-ball linebackers: Jordan Hicks, Carson Schwesinger, Jerome Baker, and Mohamoud Diabate, Devin Bush

Former Lions head coach Jim Schwartz—remembered in Detroit for his temperamental edge and no-nonsense style—brought a rugged, attacking mentality to Cleveland’s defense in 2023. Despite some regression elsewhere, the Browns still led the NFL in pressure rate (41.7%) last season. Schwartz incorporates plenty of movement up front—including twists, stunts, and wide alignments—to keep protection schemes guessing. That approach could stress Detroit’s young interior, though it may also open lanes in the run game if Cleveland’s front isn’t disciplined.

Cleveland’s interior defensive line underwent some remodeling this offseason. The Browns added compact, powerful top-five pick Mason Graham and signed veteran Maliek Collins to provide interior pass rush, likely shifting Shelby Harris into a rotational role that better fits where he is at this stage of his career. Recent second-rounder Mike Hall Jr. missed the first five games of 2024 while on the Commissioner’s Exempt list and is also recovering from knee surgery. If healthy—and with off-field concerns behind him—Hall brings disruptive flashes and penetrating upside.

The biggest question mark remains a lack of a true run-plugging nose tackle, a void that could put pressure on the second level—and one the Lions are likely to target on the ground.

With Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah lost for the year to a neck injury, Cleveland’s linebacker picture is still taking shape. Instinctual rookie Carson Schwesinger—a former walk-on who became an All-American—was drafted at the top of the second round and could earn a starting role alongside 11-year veteran Jordan Hicks. Jerome Baker adds proven coverage ability and experience, while Mohamoud Diabate and Devin Bush offer system familiarity and rotational depth.

This isn’t the most intimidating interior the Lions will face, and it shouldn’t present pre-snap confusion—but with Schwartz’s aggressive tendencies and emerging talent in the mix, the Browns defense still carries the potential to recapture the dominant version of its 2023 defense.

Week 5: @ Cincinnati Bengals

• Points/Game allowed: 25.5 (t-25th)
• Defensive success rate: 51.7% (t-26th)
• Defensive EPA/play: -0.05 (t-28th)
• Pressure rate: 31.2% (24th)
• Third down conversion rate: 35.0% (14th)
• Blitz rate: 20.8% (25th)
• Defensive coordinator/play caller: Al Golden (1st Year)
• Notable interior defensive linemen: B.J. Hill, T.J. Slaton, Kris Jenkins, McKinnley Jackson
• Notable off-ball linebackers: Logan Wilson, Demetrius Knight Jr, Oren Burkes, Barrett Carter

This matchup has all the makings of a “find your mojo” game for Detroit’s interior offensive line. The Bengals parted ways with longtime defensive mastermind Lou Anarumo and replaced him with former Lions tight ends coach Al Golden, a move seen as a way to reinvigorate a defense that had grown stale. They also lost key interior contributors, most notably linebacker Germaine Pratt, from what was one of the league’s worst defenses last season.

Up front, Cincinnati’s interior is still anchored by productive gap-shooting three-technique B.J. Hill, alongside free-agent addition T.J. Slaton, who offers stout run defense. Behind them, 2024 Day 2 picks Kris Jenkins and McKinnley Jackson are expected to rotate in after disappointing rookie seasons where both struggled to hold their own—vulnerabilities the Lions will look to exploit.

At linebacker, green-dot leader Logan Wilson returns after missing a career-high six games with a season-ending knee injury. Wilson is an athletic, well-rounded force when healthy. He’ll be joined by second-round rookie Demetrius Knight Jr., a downhill thumper out of South Carolina who has already drawn praise for his rapid acclimation this offseason. Depth comes via Oren Burks, who played some of his best football as a fill-in starter for the Eagles during their Super Bowl run, and Barrett Carter, a highly touted prospect whose development plateaued after a breakout 2022 sophomore year at Clemson.

This game shapes up as an opportunity not only for Detroit’s new-look offensive line to build confidence against a shaky front, but also for new offensive coordinator John Morton to hit his stride and fully leverage the talented roster at his disposal.