Lions' center job is still up for grabs in training camp (and it should be)

Tate Ratledge, the rookie guard taken by the Detroit Lions with their second round pick back this year, has been immediately thrust into a competition for a starting job with Detroit. That competition only exists because of Frank Ragnow's sudden retirement from the NFL.

As a result of the teams' best IOL leaving, they've had to hope that Ratledge can pick up on NFL speed quickly in training camp as he's gotten quite a few reps at the center position this spring and summer.

However, that doesn't necessarily mean he's the man for the job. The team, maybe not intentionally, has filled their depth chart at IOL with versatile guards who have experience with flipping over to center throughout their respective careers. Trystan Colon, who was signed by the Lions this offseason, has played both positions. So has Graham Glasgow.

The latter between those two has begun to get some time at center over Ratledge, after some speculation that Ratledge's sticking at that position in the early days of training camp meant that the team had become comfortable with him taking over from Ragnow. Glasgow, though, deserves some burn considering he's the veteran center option on the Lions' roster.

However, Glasgow didn't come back to the Lions in free agency with the expectation that he'd be playing center at all: he wanted to return to his rightful spot at right guard, as reported on by Detroit Free Press's Dave Birkett. In short, Glasgow told Birkett he returned knowing he'd be at right guard.

Ratledge-Glasgow competition at center is healthy

Things don't always go our way. That's life. And, with Ragnow's retirement, it seems like Glasgow's going to have to play both positions in training camp to satiate the needs of coaches to see if their first unit offense operates better with him under center or with Ratledge prior to the 2025 season kicking off.

It's important for Detroit to run through all of their options as it doesn't seem like they're planning on test the trade or free agent market for a Ragnow-esque replacement. He was one of one, so they can't expect Ratledge or Glasgow to become All-Pro centers in one season - especially as both are so comfortable at the guard position.

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Jared Goff, who'd be the biggest beneficiary of a solid IOL and center, has been singing Ratledge's praises in training camp so far, with Dan Campbell telling reporters this week that the team just wanted to see what a flip between Glasgow and Ratledge looked like while still intending to "work" Ratledge in at center.

This is a win-win situation for the Lions. Both Glasgow and Ratledge are getting major reps in during training camp, which ensures they'll be more than ready for the kickoff to the season. And, the team will have had a full helping of both at center to determine best course of action to begin the year.

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