With the conclusion of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions have a few players entering their rookie years who could earn starts at some point in the regular season.
From Tyliek Williams to Isaac TeSlaa, the Lions made multiple picks in this year's draft on players who can fill holes and make immediate impacts for Detroit. While the Lions' draft isn't receiving national media respect, the media often blasts Brad Holmes' drafts because he doesn't cater to their mock drafts.
Usually, an already good team's first-round pick is the one that most expect to make an impact in Week 1, but for the Lions, that player came in the second round.
Tate Ratledge is the most likely rookie to start for Lions in Week 1
Tate Ratledge will be the Week 1 starter at right guard, and for a couple of reasons.
First, Ratledge has been a starter at one of the best college programs in the country for the past three seasons. Since 2022, Ratledge has started 36 games for the Georgia Bulldogs, going a phenomenal 33-3 in that stretch.
Per Pro Football Focus, Ratledge played 2,066 of his 2,070 snaps at right guard in his three years in Athens, giving up just two sacks, six hits, and 10 hurries in that span. Not to mention, Ratledge is a winner; he won National Championships with Georgia as a backup in 2021 and as a full-time starter in 2022.
Another sign that points to Ratledge being the Week 1 starter is the Lions' lack of starting talent at guard. Kevin Zeitler signed with the Tennessee Titans this offseason, and the Lions' guard room consists of veteran Graham Glasgow, second-year guard Christian Mahogany, Kayode Awosika, and rookies Ratledge and Miles Frazier.
The veteran Glasgow is the only one in this room who has any sort of resume, and he is coming off of the worst year of his career. According to PFF, Glasgow was ranked 88th out of 136 guards in pass blocking and 91st in run blocking.
With Mahogany being very solid in relief for Zeitler and Glasgow last season, it seems evident that he will get the start at left guard in 2025. Picked in the sixth round in 2024, Mahogany was looked at as a project for the Lions, but his performance as a backup in 2024 was enough for Detroit.
Glasgow, Awosika, and Miles Frazier should be the reinforcements at guard to open 2025. Of course, there is a chance that Dan Campbell decides to roll with the veteran Glasgow at right guard and Mahogany at left guard, but the best two in this room are Ratledge and Mahogany.
With Ratledge being a natural right guard, it seems obvious that he should get the start in Week 1. Although Glasgow and Awosika are not great starters, they are solid backup pieces, and the addition of Frazier helps make this guard room a strength.