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Detroit Lions offensive line ranked in top 10 by PFF

By Rob Kish

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - OCTOBER 1: The Detroit Lions offense huddles up around Matthew Stafford #9 in the second half of the game against the Minnesota Vikings on October 1, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - OCTOBER 1: The Detroit Lions offense huddles up around Matthew Stafford #9 in the second half of the game against the Minnesota Vikings on October 1, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images) /
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Last week, PFF’s Mike Renner ranked the Detroit Lions offensive line at number 8 in the NFL. That is a marked improvement over last year’s ranking.

Ah, the mid-summer drag of the NFL off-season. It a dreary time with power-rankings aplenty and competition non-existent. One of the latest rankings to make headlines for the Lions is last week’s PFF offensive line rankings. The Lions OL came in 8th in this one.

For reference, last off-season they came in 24th (it was done post-Decker injury). After the 2017 season, the Lions OL was ranked 19th by PFF. The 11 spot jump from the end of last season to now was the best in the league. From the PFF piece:

"The Lions have quietly built an offensive line that could be the best Matthew Stafford has ever played behind. After signing right guard T.J. Lang and right tackle Rick Wagner last offseason, the Lions drafted PFF’s top-rated college center, Arkansas’ Frank Ragnow, in the first round this April. Now with Taylor Decker a year removed from a torn pectoral, the Lions have a chance to throw out five quality starters for the first time in a while."

So what does this mean for the Lions?

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It means…

  • The Lions have a very good offensive line.
  • PFF thinks they have the best offensive line in the NFC North.
  • Bob Quinn has potentially assembled the most improved unit in the league.
  • Matthew Stafford will spend less time on his back than any season in his career.
  • The running game will be better than it’s been in years.
  • Expectations are high for the group, especially Taylor Decker (coming off a partial season) and Frank Ragnow.

Bob Quinn has really invested in the offensive line during his time in Detroit. This season, it’s really starting to show. He’s used two of his three first-round picks on OL, Taylor Decker and Frank Ragnow. Not to mention, two of his largest free agent signings have been offensive linemen, TJ Lang and Rick Wagner. Pair that with a new OL coach and I can see why there is so much optimism for the position group.

Next: Five games that will define the Lions season

This ranking is pending, of course, better luck than last season. There are many factors that contribute to offensive line success, the most important of all being health. Last season the Lions used 10 different line combinations, according to Kyle Meinke of MLive. If the big men up front can stay healthy and establish continuity, the offense will be an absolute force.

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