The Detroit Lions had a laundry list of problems during the 2025 season, but quite possibly the biggest ended up being inconsistency with their offensive line.
From the beginning of the season, the trouble started up front in the middle of the line and never rebounded. The loss of Frank Ragnow mattered greatly to Detroit, who struggled to keep it together all season. Often times, the pressure flowed from the middle right into Jared Goff's face.
Detroit found a solid young contributor in Tate Ratledge, but he seems to have made a home at guard after moonlighting at center during the start of training camp. Graham Glasgow played the position during the year, but struggled badly. His play was poor enough at center that PFF considers the position the biggest offseason need the franchise has right now.
Writer Mason Cameron put together a list of needs for the draft, and currently, center is the spot that he sees as the biggest hole on the roster.
"The surprise retirement of All-Pro center Frank Ragnow shortly before the season forced the Lions to adjust quickly. Graham Glasgow shifted over after starting at guard during his first two seasons in Detroit, but the veteran struggled at times, ranking 28th among qualifying centers in PFF grade (56.8)."
Glasgow felt more at home as a guard, and was likely being asked to play a role that he wasn't comfortable with in terms of starting at center. If he does stay, he's better suited as a reserve on a deeper offensive line. The Lions could also choose to move on from Glasgow and save nearly $8 million on the cap for 2026, seeing as that's an expensive reserve.
Either way, the Lions are unlikely to simply run it back next season with the same group that led them to dramatic struggles at the most important spot on the offensive front.
Lions must make center position their top priority this offseason
Last year, the Lions were in between a rock and a hard place with the decision of Ragnow to retire. Arguably, the franchise should have been readying for his eventual departure a lot sooner given his injury history, but Brad Holmes was caught flat-footed after the draft played out.
Holmes recently revisited the situation with Ragnow, and admitted that his departure was a late decision which hurt the franchise ahead of the 2025 season.
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"It was after the draft. That was when he officially told us 'I'm not going to do it.' I can't remember (when). It may have been some point in late May, but that's when he gave us the final stop. Not saying the thoughts weren't swirling, not saying there were no breadcrumbs. Even with breadcrumbs but not knowing exactly what he was going to do, it was something we knew we needed to prepare for because we didn't know which way it was going to tip."
The Lions didn't prepare well enough for Ragnow's exit, because they tried to lure him back midseason before a groin ailment shut down his comeback. That sent the message that Glasgow wasn't getting it done in spite of their high hopes he could slot in seamlessly.
This offseason, they need to make center the biggest priority in free agency or the draft, and it may be as simple as a complete retool at the position from what played out in 2025.