Former Georgia guard Tate Ratledge signs $7.6M rookie contract
The first two years of it will be 100% guaranteed, while the third year includes 66% guaranteed salary, according to Ben Levine of Trade Rumors.
Ratledge was drafted by Detroit with the 57th overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft after spending four years holding down Georgia's right side. Ratledge immense size (6-foot-6, 320 pounds) and speed (4.97 40-yard dash (100th percentile) and 7.38 cone drill (96th percentile)) made him a terror for opposing defensive lineman.
Ratledge earned AP All-American Third-Team distinction in 2024 and AP All-American Second-Team in 2023. He's also dependably healthy, as other than an ankle injury suffered in Week 3 of the 2024 season, he hasn't sustained many significant injuries.
With incumbent center Frank Ragnow retiring over the 2025 offseason, Ratledge has an easy route to earn starting time off the bat. He's already gotten looks as the starting center during training camp and with Pro Bowlers Penei Sewell and Taylor Decker flanking both tackle spots, Ratledge will be eased into the position.
In normal circumstances, his rookie deal would have been ironed out by now. However, when the Texans signed Iowa State wide receiver Jayden Higgins to a fully-guaranteed contract, it caused an unprecedented standoff between NFL teams and second-round picks, as each one of them were looking for more guaranteed money than previous years, if not a fully guaranteed contract.
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