What teams want to see most out of rookie players over the course of their first NFL season is growth. How much better are they Week 18 than they were Week 1?
For Lions rookie guard Tate Ratledge that growth was evident. After a rough start to his NFL career Week 1 in Green Bay, Ratledge was playing some of his best football down the stretch. Over his last 12 games, Ratledge didn't allow a sack and gave up only four quarterback hits. His final Pro Football Focus grade of 70.2 ranked 32nd among all guards in the NFL this season. His run blocking grade ranked 19th. Ratledge finished the season allowing two sacks, nine quarterback hits and 13 quarterback hurries starting 17 games at right guard and playing over 1,000 snaps.
When Ratledge was asked to evaluate his first NFL season, he said there's a lot of room for improvement heading into Year 2.
"Definitely better than where it started, but obviously, a lot of things to improve on," he said. "I don't think I played to this offensive line's standard and this team's standard. So, definitely a lot of things I can improve on.
"It's pretty disappointing because I hold myself to a high standard. It's a building block and something I have a baseline to build on."
At 6-foot-6, 315 pounds, Ratledge is one of the taller guards in the NFL. Winning at the line of scrimmage is all about leverage and pad level, and that's one thing Ratledge said he and the coaches have talked about improving this offseason in his exit interview.
"The one thing that needs to be fixed sooner rather than later is pad level," Ratledge said. "I'm already a tall guard as it is and improving pad level is one of my bigger things."
After taking Ratledge in the second round of this year's NFL Draft with the No. 57 overall pick, Detroit worked him at center in the offseason and briefly in training camp before moving him back to his more comfortable right guard spot and starting veteran Graham Glasgow at center.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell said moving Ratledge to center isn't off the table moving forward.
"Whatever the team needs," Ratledge said. "I'm obviously more comfortable at right guard but whatever they need from me."
Whatever the Lions end up doing at center, plus potentially left tackle if veteran Taylor Decker retires, there are expected to be changes upfront and added competition.
"We're going to bring in some guys to compete. That's the thing. We need competition in a lot of areas because that brings out the best in players, whether it's with some of the guys that were here or the guys that we bring in," Campbell said after the season. "That's how you elevate the roster."
Detroit's pass blocking win rate of 56 percent ranked 31st in the NFL this season. Their run block win rate of 71 percent was 20th. Detroit's success in 2023 (NFC Championship Game appearance) and 2024 (15-2 record) was spearheaded by an offensive line that was dominant in all phases of the game, allowing quarterback Jared Goff to operate clean and leading the way for a consistent and explosive run game.
Ratledge said there's been a fire lit not just with him but with all the players coming back upfront to get back to the standard of the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
"Seeing how this offensive line has played over the last few years and not performing as a unit like we wanted to or hoped to, definitely lights a fire under you," he said. "We need to get going."
Where Ratledge will end up playing in 2026 will be sorted out this offseason, but he's certainly excited to work on his pad level and improve his game to be a big part of getting Detroit's offensive line back to playing dominant football again.
