Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes is rarely, if ever, strictly beholden to needs in the draft. But he also knows when there's a need area that can't be ignored, and with that in mind the Lions took cornerbacks with their first two picks in the 2024 draft (Terrion Arnold, Ennis Rakestraw).
During his season-ending press conference last week, Holmes was asked about the Lions' offensive line and making sure the cupboard stays stocked there.
"The whole thing, that whole unit, it’s not a specific position, it’s not, ‘Oh, it’s got to be a future left tackle or it’s a starting guard or someone to develop behind Frank (Ragnow)', Holmes said. "I think when you start going in those kind of specific avenues you can kind of ignore something else, and I just think you’ve got to keep the whole garden watered at all points."
"It's going to be the whole unit, because just like you said, that’s the engine for us," Holmes said. "And so, I don’t care how good we ever get on the offensive line, that one right there is too important for not only our team, our quarterback, everything, it’s our identity, man. So, I think just that alone is just – it’s always going to be at the forefront.”
The Lions drafted two offensive lineman last year, offensive tackle Giovanni Manu in the fourth round and guard Christian Mahogany in the sixth round. Manu had what amounted to a "redshirt" year as a rookie, while Mahogany started two games (one at each guard spot, including the playoff game at right guard).
Lions predicted to double-dip early in the 2025 draft, again
Holmes hinted at age concerns attached to some of the Lions' offensive lineman. Three of this seasons starters, left tackle Taylor Decker (31), left guard Graham Glasgow (32), right guard Kevin Zeitler (34) are over 30 years old, and another, center Frank Ragnow, will turn 29 in May. Zeitler is also a free agent, and may need to replaced at right guard one way or another.
As part of ESPN's ongoing offseason guide for all the eliminated playoff teams, analyst Ben Solak had the "big prediction" for the Lions' offseason.
"The Lions are getting older along the offensive line, with three of five starters over the age of 30 and center Frank Ragnow now a long-term health question mark. I expect Detroit, which double-dipped at cornerback at the top of the 2024 draft with Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw, to do the same at offensive line. The Lions will target one on the interior, and another to be the future at left tackle behind Taylor Decker. Aireontae Ersery (Minnesota) and Jonah Savaiinaea (Arizona) fit their style.
Decker has three years left on the contract extension he signed last offseason, but there is a potentially palatable out as soon as 2026. Ragnow is is under contract through 2026, and as Solak noted he has deal with a lot injuries over the course of his career. Glasgow is also under contract through 2026, though he sits as a potential (but very unlikely) cap casualty this offseason.
Holmes knows he has to do what it takes to keep the Lions' offensive line one of the best in the league. One path to that, as unlikely as it feels with a big need that doesn't need to be mentioned, would be to double-dip with the first two picks in April's draft.