When the Detroit Lions traded up to draft Tate Ratledge in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, they knew he could be a plug-and-play right guard, but they believed he could have an even higher developmental ceiling at center. After spending all of spring practices and the first week of summer training camp at center, the Lions opted to shift him back to right guard, where he will likely stay for his rookie season.

When the Lions decided to shift Ratledge back to guard, the rookie took a handful of practices to reacclimate. However, by the time Detroit hosted the Dolphins for joint practices, Lions coach Dan Campbell said he was ‘fired up’ by the progress Ratledge had made, noting that the rookie “looked like a starting NFL guard.”

On Thursday, Lions General Manager Brad Holmes shared

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