New Year’s Resolutions For The Detroit Lions

The Lions’ offensive line was a mess in 2025. The unit, which had been the team’s identity and foundation for success, devolved into the Lions’ biggest weakness. The run game spiraled into mediocrity (or worse) as the season wore on. Jared Goff no longer had the time he needed to pick apart opposing defenses. For the Lions to have any success next season, fixing the offensive line must be a New Year’s resolution they commit to.

The Interior Line

The interior of the Lions’ line was thrown into shambles when All-Pro Center Frank Ragnow retired before the start of the 2025 season. Graham Glasnow, after a disappointing 2024 season, was forced to move to center. Unproven second-year player Christian Mahogany and rookie Tate Ratledge were thrown into the fire at both guard spots. Ratledge had the ups and downs one would expect from a rookie, while Mahogany suffered a broken arm that cost him a bulk of his season. None of the three interior spots is settled for next season. The Lions shouldn’t expect Ragnow to make a second attempt at unretiring, and haven’t ruled out moving Ratledge to center. The Lions will go into the offseason needing upgrades, both starters and depth, for the future.

If the Lions want to make a significant move in free agency, they should set their sights on the Ravens Center Tyler Linderbaum. Should Baltimore allow him to reach the market, he will surely be a hot commodity. Unfortunately, the Lions will not have much cap space to work with. However, restructuring the contracts of Jared Goff or Amon-Ra St Brown would create the needed cap space to sign Linderbaum. Inking him would allow Ratledge to stay at Right Guard, and Detroit can allow Mahogany and Miles Frazier to battle to be the starting left guard.

A more realistic target for the Lions is Cleveland guard Joel Bitonio. Even at 34 years old, Bitonio is still playing at an extremely high level. His age will certainly bring down his price tag. He could be just what Detroit needs, much like Kevin Zeitler was in 2024. Whether it’s Linderbaum, Bitonio, or others, there is no position the Lions need to improve more than the offensive line.

Find Taylor Decker’s Successor

Unfortunately for the Lions, the interior of the offensive line is not the only place that needs to be addressed this offseason. Left Tackle is one of the most important positions on the field. The Lions have been lucky to have Talor Decker hold down that spot for the last decade. After an injury-plagued 2025, it is fair to think Decker’s time is coming to an end. It would surprise nobody if Decker followed Ragnow into retirement this offseason. Even if he does stay, the Lions must look to find their LT of the future this offseason.

Finding a Left Tackle in free agency is never easy. They are expensive, and ones worth breaking the bank for hardly ever become available. The Lions would be best served by using their first round to find their next one.

The Lions’ late-season collapse has put them in a prime draft position to select Alabama behemoth Kadyn Proctor. At 6 feet, seven inches, and 369 pounds, Proctor is an imposing sight on the football field. He can step in and be a starter from day one if Decker decides to retire. Even if Decker stays for another season, Proctor would instantly be an upgrade over Dan Skipper as the Lions’ swing tackle. If we hear Proctor’s name when the Lions are on the clock this year, Lions fans should be thrilled.

No More Long-Term Projects

The last New Year’s resolution for the Lions is a simple one: stop drafting players who are long-term projects. The Lions need their draft class to be filled with players who can contribute immediately. Brad Holmes can no longer justify spending his valuable draft picks on players who are not expected to contribute for 2-3 years down the road. His recent picks of players like Brodric Martin, Giovanni Manu, and Sione Vaki have so far been wasted picks that could have been used on players who were NFL-ready now. Holmes made the mistake of thinking the Lions were good enough, and that proved to be wrong. He can’t make that mistake in 2026. The Lions must draft players who can be counted on in whatever role they are needed from the start.

This offseason will be the most important of the Holmes/Campbell era. If the Lions make these New Year’s resolutions a reality in 2026, next season will be a much greater success than 2025 was.