Detroit Lions: Where Frank Ragnow will play still to be decided

Frank Ragnow lined up at guard during OTAs but that doesn’t necessarily mean that is where he will ultimately wind up for the Detroit Lions.

Frank Ragnow was announced as a center when the Detroit Lions made him their first round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. While center may be where he ends up in the long run, it’s not certain that is where his professional career will begin.

Bob Quinn made clear that the team views him as simply an interior offensive lineman for now when he addressed the media following the first round of the draft.

The versatility of both Ragnow and Graham Glasgow makes it easy for the Lions to let things settle out on the practice field rather than worrying about who should play center and who should play guard.

Asked about seeing Ragnow playing left guard during the portion of OTAs open to the media, Patricia maintained that no decisions have been made and having some players move around is part of the process at this stage:

"Sure, definitely no decisions. We’re obviously trying to put everyone in a bunch of different positions. You’ll see guys all over the place today. In a bunch of, maybe, positions they didn’t play in the past or what theoretically on paper it says they should play. But that’s the part of it that’s good right now. We’re not in game plan mode. We’re just kind of in a learning mode and a fundamental mode. So, you know, we’re just trying to see how much they can all handle in different spots."

In addition to seeing time at left guard with the first team, Ragnow was also seen in photographs playing right guard with what appeared to be a group of backup offensive players. It is in the fact that Ragnow appears to be practicing exclusively at guard so far that the last part of that quote becomes interesting.

If the process means seeing how much Ragnow can handle, it makes sense to see him start at guard. There he would be able to settle into the routine of an NFL practice with a lighter load of responsibilities than he would have on his plate if he was at center.

To his credit, Ragnow appears to be holding his own already. More from Patricia:

"It’s really – you know what’s good, when you see and go out in practice and you don’t particularly notice that there’s a guy that is a young player or not. He just kind of fits in with the group, and fits in and plays, and you’re not really looking at it and saying, ‘That’s out of place,’ like it looks like it’s out of place. I haven’t noticed that at all."

That kind of praise suggests Ragnow is handling all he’s been given so far without issue. With that being the case, it would make sense to start seeing him taking reps at center in the near future. After all, that seems to be a logical progression and he will need some reps there between now and the season opener considering he would at least be the backup center if he ends up starting at guard.

Regardless, it’s all so early in the process that it’s too early to draw any conclusions one way or another. All we can really glean is that Ragnow appears to be meeting expectations with what he’s been asked to do. Hopefully that continues as they start giving him reps at center.

All quotes provided by the Detroit Lions.