The offensive line was a big problem for the Detroit Lions last season, but they have several reasons for optimism going into 2026. Rebuilding the trenches was a priority for the Lions, and the offensive line was a main beneficiary, most notably the addition of free agent Cade Mays. But if the Lions really want to get their mean streak back, it could be on the shoulders of Tate Ratledge.
Ratledge had a shaky start to his career in the NFL, but his performance smoothed out as he got more experience, giving him a big opportunity entering his second season. Still, it wasn’t enough for ESPN’s Aaron Schatz, who believes right guard remains one of the Lions’ biggest issues after the NFL Draft.
“This isn’t a hole the Lions are going to try to plug because they’re counting on improvement from 2025 second-round pick Tate Ratledge,” Schatz wrote in an article released on Thursday morning. “However, he was a real weakness last season. Ratledge’s pass block win rate of 87.4% ranked 63rd out of 65 qualifying guards, and his run block win rate of 69.9% was below average.”
Looking at Ratledge’s total body of work, Schatz has an argument. But it’s not enough for Lions fans not to feel that the Georgia product could have turned the corner last fall.
Tate Ratledge Should Be Ready to Take Next Step for Lions in 2026
Ratledge’s overall numbers, courtesy of Pro Football Focus, were good, but not great, during his rookie season. His overall grade of 70.3 ranked 24th among 85 qualifying guards last season, and his 73.5 run-blocking grade ranked 11th in that group, providing a solid baseline moving forward.
But the one thing that Schatz alluded to was his struggles in pass protection. Ratledge’s 58.5 pass blocking grade was 61st among guards, but it wasn’t indicative of his performance. While he allowed a pair of sacks early on, he didn’t allow another one after Week 6 and allowed two or fewer pressures in 10 of his final 11 games.
These numbers helped Ratledge rank 12th among qualifiers in PFF’s pass blocking efficiency metric, which calculates the percentage of pass-blocking snaps where an offensive lineman prevents quarterback pressure with a heavy emphasis on reducing snaps. And even though Ratledge allowed 24 pressures on 620 pass-blocking snaps, Jared Goff can still throw the ball under pressure as opposed to lying on his back during a sack.
There’s another layer when comparing Ratledge to the 2025 draft class. Ratledge ranked third among qualifying rookie guards in pressures allowed and had fewer than first-round picks, Tyler Booker of the Dallas Cowboys (25), Donovan Jackson of the Minnesota Vikings (26). He also had just as many pressures as another first-round pick, Grey Zabel, who went on to win a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks.
Maybe there’s a difference between ESPN’s metrics and PFF’s metrics. Ratledge also has to navigate changes on both sides with the addition of Mays and Penei Sewell’s expected move to left tackle. But if the Lions were really worried, they would have added more significant competition behind him or even followed through on the idea of moving him to center.
In the end, there’s enough there to suggest that Schatz’s concerns are overblown and the Lions have bigger worries than Ratledge heading into his second season.
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