Analyzing the Lions OG room after trading up for Tate Ratledge and Miles Frazier
Analyzing the Lions OG room after trading up for Tate Ratledge and Miles Frazier Analyzing the Lions OG room after trading up for Tate Ratledge and Miles Frazier along with any medical concerns
Based on my pre-draft positional need rankings, I expected that the Lions would take an offensive guard within the first three rounds. That happened when the Lions traded up to take Tate Ratledge in the 2nd.
What may have been a mild surprise is that the Lions traded up again to take another OG, Miles Frazier, in the 5th round.
Why does drafting 2 OG's raise the concerns for the existing group?
I had pre-draft moderate medical concerns for the existing interior offensive line (recap below). The Lions certainly know much more than is known publicly, so their doubling up on OG's in the draft could signal a significant concern. Not only did the team draft two OG's, they traded up to do so which suggests they felt an urgent need to fortify that position.
On the other hand, why is drafting 2 OG's not necessarily a reflection of the existing group?
In the 5th round, the Lions are not expecting to get an instant starter. Getting a solid, long-term backup in that round would be a perfectly fine outcome. It's quite possible that Frazier simply stood out as the best player available despite bigger needs along the defensive line.
Also, when you look at Frazier's playing history, he has positional versatility with extended experience at offensive tackle. With the existing OT group, there is a need for young backups and a potential long-range starter. The current backup is Dan Skipper who is 30 years old. Maybe 2nd-year Giovanni Manu can fill that role but he has yet to see the field. If you add Frazier into the OT mix, the pick makes a lot of sense.
Rundown of the key members of the interior offensive line:
(Age at start of the 2025 season.)
Miles Frazier (23) - 5th round pick
Frazier played 13 games in each of his last three college seasons displaying excellent reliability. I have not found any significant medical concerns which would make him the healthiest and youngest member of the entire group.
Tate Ratledge (24) - 2nd round pick
The Lions traded up three spots to make sure they got Ratledge suggesting he was a high-priority, positional-need target. While he finished his college career healthy, he is not medically clean as he has a notable surgical history.
In 2021, he had Lisfranc surgery and missed the rest of the season. In 2024, he had tightrope surgery for a left high ankle sprain and missed seven weeks. Neither of these issues are active concerns, and he is expected to be healthy entering his rookie season. But down the road, there is a chance of injury-related arthritic issues which is head-started by his older rookie age.
Graham Glasgow (33)
Glasgow was listed with a knee twice last season and missed one game for it. The public injury reports are just the tip of a player's injury iceberg making it possible that the knee was bothering him for much of the year. There are no details of this knee injury, but there is concern if it is a chronic issue that persists into the 2025 season.
His age of 33 is becoming a concern as well. Offensive linemen can play longer than some other positions but age is still a factor.
Christian Mahogany (24)
Mahogany missed training camp and half the season due to mono but that is of no concern going forward. What raises eyebrows is that he was wearing a right knee brace all last season with a history of a 2022 right ACL. The ACL shouldn't be a concern at this point, but it makes you wonder if there was associated knee damage with the ACL injury.
Frank Ragnow (29)
Ragnow has battled through injuries to many body parts over the years including a left pec strain and back issue in 2024, and a left knee meniscus, left MCL, left high ankle, and calf in 2023.
The main ongoing concern may be his toe injury that is suspected to have started or exacerbated in 2021.
Outlook
The Lions had a need for an OG entering the draft and aggressively addressed it in both the 2nd and 5th rounds. Doubling up with Frazier was valuable as he instantly becomes the youngest, healthiest member of the group. Maybe the biggest part of the team's identity is a strong offensive line thus adding two young players should insure that strength continues.
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