The Detroit Lions have had one of the NFL's best offensive lines in recent years, anchored by three first-round picks and high-level performance around them. While things seem to be getting sorted out during training camp, there are questions heading into this season that have not existed previously.
The loss of right guard Kevin Zeitler to the Tennessee Titans in free agency, especially considering a contract the Lions should have been able to match, was a notable blow. Then in early June, four-time Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow surprisingly retired. That said, how the Lions got two incoming rookies some work at center a month prior instantly looked like preparation for that possible outcome with Ragnow.
In a direct sense, two of the Lions' interior offensive line starters will be practically new this year.
Second-year man Christian Mahogany, who made two starts last season (one at each guard spot) and looked good in both, is all but locked in as the starting left guard. The current trend has rookie Tate Ratledge lined up to be the starter at right guard, but the position battle at center might not be over.
Lions 'underrated' x-factor will be absolutely critical to the team's success in 2025
The remaining interior offensive line starter for the Lions this season is a well-known veteran. Graham Glasgow was originally drafted by the Lions in 2016, and he came back in 2023 free agency. He became the starting right guard that season, earning a top-10 overall grade at the position from Pro Football Focus.
Glasgow moved to left guard to accommodate the Lions signing Zeitler last season, and he struggled mightily there amid some nagging injuries. On both ends of that position move, in August of 2024 and last month as this year's training camp got going, Glasgow has made it clear his preference is to play right guard.
Whatever position he ends up starting at, Glasgow has easily earned acknowledgement from CBS Sports' Cody Benjamin as an underrated x-factor for the Lions in 2025.
"We cycle through the same names when discussing the Lions: Jared Goff as the distributor, Jahmyr Gibbs and Amon-Ra St. Brown as the electric skill weapons, Aidan Hutchinson as the pass rushing force, and Dan Campbell as the hearty captain of the ship. Everything starts in the trenches, though, and Glasgow, who's on his second stint with the team, will be tasked with filling the shoes of All-Pro center Frank Ragnow, who retired before the age of 30 this offseason. How he holds up at the heart of the line could dictate whether this group stays on course."
Aside from keeping the Detroit ground game rolling like it has been, the reshaped interior offensive line will be tasked with keeping the immobile and very "pressure sensitive" (h/t to ESPN's Mina Kimes) Jared Goff clean.
With youth around him between offensive tackles Penei Sewell and Taylor Decker, Glasgow's veteran presence and ability to capably replace Ragnow (as projected right now anyway) will be absolutely critical to the success of the Lions' offense this season.
