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Detroit Lions News: Travis Swanson Ranked a Top 5 Center

By Zac Snyder

Sep 13, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; Detroit Lions center Travis Swanson (64) points out a defensive player during the game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. San Diego won 33-28. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 13, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; Detroit Lions center Travis Swanson (64) points out a defensive player during the game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. San Diego won 33-28. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Detroit Lions news takes a look at SI’s ranking of the top five NFL centers – a list that includes Travis Swanson.

The Detroit Lions didn’t make replacing Travis Swanson at center a priority in free agency but they did put him on notice by selecting Michigan’s Graham Glasgow in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft. If he is to stay as the team’s starting center, he will have to beat out new competition.

That didn’t come as a great shock to most Lions fans, as Swanson appeared to struggle for much of the season and he was a draft pick under the old front office regime.

What will come as a shock is Swanson’s place in Doug Farrar’s rankings of the NFL’s top five centers on SI.com. Farrar ranks Swanson as the league’s fifth-best center, behind only Travis Frederick, Mike Pouncey, Ryan Kalil and Weston Richburg. He offers the following commentary on Swanson:

"The Lions have put Swanson to the test in his two NFL seasons—they throw the ball as much as any NFL team, and as such, Swanson is responsible for protections, and helping to fend off interior pressure on quarterback Matthew Stafford. Last season, in 649 passing snaps, Swanson allowed no sacks and had just four blown blocks. He’s an ideal modern-day center built for the increase in the aerial game, and he also has the strength to drive defenders out of the way in the run game."

Crediting Swanson for being responsible for line calls is questionable considering the amount of pressure Stafford was under last season and Swanson’s supposed prowess in the running game wasn’t evident to this observer. A shoulder injury reportedly impacted Swanson’s effectiveness and it is possible Farrar is building some projection into his rankings. Hopefully he is proven right.

After many Lions fans have spent a bulk of the offseason wasting breath disagreeing with where Lions have been ranked by outlets like Pro Football Focus and others, it’s kind of an odd feeling to once again disagree with a player ranking, but because he’s ranked too high. Oh well, there will be actual games to talk about soon enough.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

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