The Detroit Lions want to get back to being a team that features a dominant offensive line, and that starts by upgrading the center position and fostering competition at guard. Detroit found their right guard of the future in last year's NFL Draft in Tate Ratledge, who had a solid rookie season and is expected to be even better in 2026.
Whether it's a veteran in free agency or looking to the NFL Draft, Detroit has to find their center of the future this offseason and foster competition with Christian Mahogany for that starting left guard spot.
Top 5 interior offensive linemen to watch at the Combine:
1. Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State, 6-4, 323
Ioane has the prototypical size, strength, athleticism and demeanor to be an instant impact starter in the NFL. He surrendered just four pressures and zero sacks and zero quarterback hits while earning First-Team All-Big Ten and First-Team All-American recognition this past year.
View photos of the offensive line prospects who were invited to the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine.
Memphis OL Chris Adams (61)
Florida OT Austin Barber (58)
Northwestern OL Evan Beerntsen (60)
Miami OL Markel Bell (70)
Texas A&M OL Chase Bisontis (71)
Boston College OL Jude Bowry (71)
Alabama OL Parker Brailsford (72)
Kentucky OL Jager Burton (62)
Texas OL DJ Campbell (52)
Arkansas OL Fernando Carmona (55)
Boise State OL Kage Casey (77)
Indiana OL Pat Coogan (78)
Miami OL Anez Cooper (73)
Texas A&M OT Dametrious Crownover (78)
Illinois OL J.C. Davis (74)
UCLA OL Garrett DiGiorgio (72)
Iowa OT Gennings Dunker (67)
Utah OT Spencer Fano (55)
Georgia OT Monroe Freeling (57)
Michigan State OL Matt Gulbin (51)
Oregon OL Alex Harkey (71)
Kansas State OL Sam Hecht (75)
Maryland OL Alan Herron (71)
Arizona State OT Max Iheanachor (58)
Penn State OG Olaivavega Ioane (71)
Iowa C Logan Jones (65)
Auburn C Connor Lew (75)
Utah OT Caleb Lomu (71)
Miami OT Francis Mauigoa (61)
Clemson OT Blake Miller (78)
Georgia OL Micah Morris (56)
Oklahoma OL Febechi Nwaiwu (54)
Duke OL Brian Parker II (53)
Mississippi OL Diego Pounds (61)
Oregon OG Emmanuel Pregnon (75)
Alabama OT Kadyn Proctor (74)
Texas A&M OG Ar'maj Reed-Adams (55)
Alabama OL Jaeden Roberts (77)
Georgia Tech OL Keylan Rutledge (77)
Notre Dame OG Billy Schrauth (74)
Penn State OT Drew Shelton (66)
Florida C Jake Slaughter (66)
Iowa OL Beau Stephens (70)
Auburn OL Dillon Wade (52)
Notre Dame OT Aamil Wagner (59)
Washington OL Carver Willis (50)
Oregon OT Isaiah World (76)
Auburn OL Jeremiah Wright (77)
Texas A&M OL Trey Zuhn III (60)
2. Chase Bisontis, Texas A&M, 6-5, 315
Bisontis has a nice all-around skillset with quick feet for his size and frame and seems to really excel in the run game.
3. Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon, 6-5, 318
He started two years at left guard at USC before transferring to Oregon and starting at left guard for the Ducks this past season. He's got an NFL frame and knows how to leverage it as he anchors well in the pass game and creates movement in the run game.
4. Logan Jones, Iowa, 6-3, 302
Jones is a freakish athlete who was dunking a basketball as a freshman in high school at over 250 pounds and holds the Iowa record for a center with a 36.6 vertical, per The Athletic. He was the 2025 recipient of the Rimington Trophy awarded to the best center in college football and has 50 college starts under his belt.
5. Connor Lew, Auburn, 6-3, 303
Lew took over the starting center spot as a true freshman in 2023 and has held onto it ever since. He shows a high football IQ and good movement skills for the position.
Combine sleeper to watch: Parker Brailsford, Alabama, 6-2, 290
A strong and nimble athlete who bench presses over 500 pounds, Brailsford was credited with 84 knockdown blocks in 2025 while allowing just one sack all season.
View photos of Detroit Lions players at the NFL Scouting Combine.
California quarterback Jared Goff runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Iowa State running back David Montgomery runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, March 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Ohio State offensive lineman Taylor Decker runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine on Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
UTSA defensive lineman Marcus Davenport runs the 40-yard dash during the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, March 4, 2018 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Temple defensive back Rock Ya-Sin runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, March 4, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Ohio State defensive lineman Tyleik Williams runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Kansas State defensive back D.J. Reed runs the 40-yard dash during the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Monday, March 5, 2018 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Florida linebacker Alex Anzalone runs a drill during the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday, March 5, 2017 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
LSU defensive back Jalen Mills runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 29, 2016. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Arkansas wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Georgia offensive lineman Tate Ratledge runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Georgia wide receiver Dominic Lovett runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Georgia offensive lineman Tate Ratledge runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 2, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
LSU offensive lineman Miles Frazier runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 2, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Ohio State defensive lineman Tyleik Williams runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Georgia wide receiver Dominic Lovett runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Florida linebacker Alex Anzalone runs the 40 yard dash during the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday, March 5, 2017 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Michigan offensive lineman Graham Glasgow runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine on Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Boston College offensive lineman Christian Mahogany runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 3, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Missouri defensive back Ennis Rakestraw Jr. runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 1, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Arkansas wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 1, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Alabama defensive back Terrion Arnold runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 1, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Utah defensive back Sione Vaki runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 1, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Alabama defensive back Terrion Arnold runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 1, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
LSU defensive lineman Mekhi Wingo runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Iowa tight end Sam Laporta runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Alabama defensive back Brian Branch runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, March 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs speaks during a news conference at the NFL football scouting combine, Saturday, March 4, 2023, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo Erin Hooley)
Mississippi State linebacker Tyrus Wheat runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Michigan defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson (31) runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine, Saturday, March 5, 2022 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Oklahoma State defensive lineman Tyler Lacy runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Illinois defensive back Kerby Joseph runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 6, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Michigan defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson (31) participates in a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Saturday, March 5, 2022 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Oklahoma State linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (28) participates in the broad jump at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
Auburn defensive back Daniel Thomas runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Iowa State running back David Montgomery runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 1, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Alabama wide receiver Jameson Williams speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine, Wednesday, March 2, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Pittsburgh defensive back Avonte Maddox participates in the Broad Jump at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Monday, March 5, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
UTSA defensive lineman Marcus Davenport runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 4, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Memphis defensive back Arthur Maulet runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, March 6, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
California quarterback Jared Goff runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Miami defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine Sunday, March 5, 2017, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Lions' need at the position: High.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell wants to be strong up the middle, building from the ball out on both sides. It doesn't get any closer to the ball than center, and Detroit had a tough time replacing All-Pro Frank Ragnow when he retired before last season.
Detroit could look to fill the void with an experienced free agent, but the draft could also be a possibility as there looks to be some plug and play prospects in the class with position versatility.
Mahogany was credited with allowing six sacks and 27 total pressures by Pro Football Focus in 2025 in his first full season as a starter at left guard. The team still believes in the former sixth-round draft pick, but adding some competition will only make everyone involved better.
Key stat: Detroit had a pass block win rate of just 56 percent, per ESPN statistics, which ranked 31st in the NFL this past season. Their 71 percent run block win rate ranked 20th.
