Cade Mays is officially a Detroit Lion.
The former Carolina Panthers center came over to the team on a 3-year, $25 million deal after multiple over big-name centers put pen to paper on even more gargantuan contracts. Mays, just 26 years old, now begins the process of learning under Hank Fraley and the Lions' offense.
In his introductory press conference, Mays told reporters that, in the process of switching over to center, he studied one specific center: former Lions center Frank Ragnow.
Mays says when he switched to center, he studied Ragnow’s film
— Mike Payton (@AtoZ_Payton) March 12, 2026
Lions' new center just said the exact right thing about his muse at center
This is a great way to endear yourself to a new fanbase, whether he meant to do that or not. Ragnow, despite springing a retirement on the Lions last offseason and shocking the fanbase ahead of the 2025 season, is seen as one of the better lineman the team had fielded in recent years. He played for Detroit for his entire career, making him even more of a fan favorite.
And, not only was he loyal, but he was a huge glue guy on the line throughout the Lions' more successful recent seasons. He was a multi-time Pro Bowler and All-Pro throughout his time with Detroit, and would've been welcomed back with open arms had he now shown up to the Lions facility last season with a very injured hamstring.
Mays is looking to help remove the...let's say, stink, of the 2025 season at the center position. With his arrival, the Lions have gone from putting all their eggs in one Tate Ratledge-shaped basket at center to having a legitimate starting center to take over from the recently released Graham Glasgow.
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There's still plenty of work to be done by the Lions and Brad Holmes to add starting talent to their offensive line. On the bargain end of things, Jack Conklin is a right tackle that was just released by the Cleveland Browns who could step in as a starter in 2026, barring further injuries. On a more expensive note, Rasheed Walker is still available and potentially on a one-year deal.
Detroit can also just hope to land a starter in the draft, although that's far more of a mixed bag than you'd like to lean on. With the Mays signing, at the very least, it seems like the Lions really hit the nail on the head.