While the Detroit Lions might not have hit on few more recent draft picks under general manager Brad Holmes, he certainly hit it out of the park on one pick from 2025: right guard Tate Ratledge.
The rookie was immediately thrust into the starting lineup after camp and sitting out of the preseason, growing into one of the team's more consistently solid offensive linemen by the end of the season.
Ratledge currently sits at 10th overall amongst guards in run blocking on PFF, and has a 69.7 grade overall on the site. That's not too shabby for a rookie who was tested at both guard and center in the offseason. ESPN's Ben Solak offered some praise for Ratledge in his 2025 All-Rookie list, in which he has Ratledge as the 2nd team right guard, just behind Tyler Booker.
"Ratledge has been about as good as you'd expect for a second-round offensive lineman. The shaky play around him has limited his ceiling, but he's a clear starter for the duration of his rookie contract."
Ratledge earns a second team nod from ESPN on All-Rookie list
We still don't know what the future holds for Ratledge with the Lions, but not in any way that would indicate that he won't be with the team in 2026. Rather, it seems like the rookie might enter camp next season once again asked to compete for the starting job at center.
It'd be nice to see the team even attempt to experiment with this during their regular season finale against the Chicago Bears in Week 18, considering the stakes are next to nothing for them, but it's likely they will just roll with Graham Glasgow to close things out there.
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Ratledge was genuinely giving Glasgow a run for his money in camp this offseason, though. It was a tight race between the two guards, but Glasgow ended up edging out the rookie (most likely due to experience). The result was subpar. Glasgow did not end up having a season anywhere near the man he was being asked to replace, Frank Ragnow, and the line suffered for it all season.
Ratledge could be shifted over to center instead of the Lions searching for one in free agency or in the draft. But, it's clear that the guard is very comfortable at his position on the right side of the line. Changing out one of the team's only good anchors up front feels far too risky of a move to make, especially for his development.
Holmes might have swung and missed on some UDFA's such as Kingsley Eguakun and Kayode Awosika, but it's clear he hit the nail on the head with Ratledge.