When the Detroit Lions traded up to draft Tate Ratledge in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, they knew he could be a plug-and-play right guard, but they believed he could have an even higher developmental ceiling at center. After spending all of spring practices and the first week of summer training camp at center, the Lions opted to shift him back to right guard, where he will likely stay for his rookie season.
When the Lions decided to shift Ratledge back to guard, the rookie took a handful of practices to reacclimate. However, by the time Detroit hosted the Dolphins for joint practices, Lions coach Dan Campbell said he was ‘fired up’ by the progress Ratledge had made, noting that the rookie “looked like a starting NFL guard.”
On Thursday, Lions General Manager Brad Holmes shared his thoughts on Ratledge’s transition from center back to right guard and why the team made that decision.
“I think he could’ve handled it if we just could’ve left him there,” Holmes said of Ratledge playing center. “But when you start looking at the whole combination of him and Graham (Glasgow) and everything, I think that that was the best thing for not only the players being put in the best positions, but also for the team. Because we didn’t have any kind of questions, we knew what he was at right guard. Like, we already know that, so we were very confident about that.”
Holmes believes the decision to place the players at their current positions is the best combination for the team and will enable the entire offensive line to not only get off to a quick start in the regular season but also handle adversity when it arises.
“We’re confident in them hitting the ground running,” Holmes said of the Lions’ offensive line. “Not only just with the players and the coaching that they are receiving, but there’s some youth along there, and there’s going to be some growth moments. But those guys are wired right, so they’re going to learn and are going to grow when those moments come. That’s what I think is great about this place: that’s what we talk about the most, getting them prepared for those moments. So, it’s going to come, and I think it should come just because that’s how they’re going to get better.”
While Ratledge will best help the Lions in 2025 by playing at right guard, the front office and coaching staff have not ruled out the fact that he could still have a bright future at center.
“I don’t know what the future’s going to bring. But yeah, I just think, we felt good about trying him (at center),” Holmes said. “We felt confident about the center stuff, and he’s shown that he’s going to be able to do it. So, it’s an argument that the ceiling is even higher at center. So, we’ll see what the future holds, but we feel confident going into it.”
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