The final Pro Football Focus offensive line rankings for the 2025 regular season had the Lions ranked 12th among the league's 32 units. That's better than average, but certainly not up to the standard that's been established in run game coordinator and offensive line coach Hank Fraley's room over the last two seasons.
"The revamped Lions offensive line failed to meet expectations in 2025," PFF wrote. "With new starters at all three interior positions, Detroit's unit was unable to replicate the successes of recent seasons. Injuries also created roadblocks, as 13 different linemen logged at least 10 snaps for the Lions.
"Rookie right guard Tate Ratledge was a bright spot on the Lions' offensive line, especially in run blocking. His 73.5 PFF run-blocking grade ranked 12th among all guards and ranked second among rookie guards."
The best player upfront for the Lions as graded by PFF was right tackle Penei Sewell, whose 95.2 overall grade led all offensive linemen. His run-blocking grade (95.1) is the highest by any right tackle over the past five years and led all offensive linemen this season by a substantial margin. Sewell allowed pressure on just 3.3 percent of pass plays, a career best that ranked second among right tackles and fifth among all offensive tackles.
He was recently named First-Team All-Pro for a third straight year and earned his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl nod.
Talking to Sewell after the conclusion of a disappointing regular season from a team perspective, it's clear the fifth-year veteran closely ties individual success with team success.
"This year alone, it wasn't my best ball," Sewell said, despite the analytics saying otherwise. "It was far from that. I'm a firm believer it starts with me upfront. I believe I set the tone. And make plays typically offensive linemen don't make. This year was definitely a down year for me, and we'll start with that. All the other stuff, I'll leave up to the coaches, but going into this next season, that'll be on my mind."
That is a testament to Sewell's leadership, not only in the offensive line room but in the locker room as well.
That role will be even more important this offseason when trying to elevate Detroit's offensive line back to being one of the league's elite units. Sewell said after the season he felt this year's unit wasn't as connected as some of the units of the past. That's understandable considering Detroit was trying to break in two youngsters at guard – Ratledge and Christian Mahogany – whereas there were veterans in those spots the years prior. It took time to get a feel for one another upfront, per Sewell, and going into next year he wants that connection to be more on point from start to finish.
View photos of the Detroit Lions' rookie class throughout the 2025 season.
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Tyleik Williams (91) celebrates during an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Tyleik Williams (91) during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025 in Cincinnati. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Tyleik Williams (91) during an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers on Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Tyleik Williams (91) in action during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025 in Inglewood, Calif. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Tyleik Williams (91) makes a tackle during an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026 in Chicago. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Tate Ratledge (69) during an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025 in Baltimore. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Tate Ratledge (69) during an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Tate Ratledge (69) and Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers on Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Tate Ratledge (69) during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Tate Ratledge (69) during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) catches a touchdown pass during an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) during an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) catches the ball and scores a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025 in Cincinnati. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) scores a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) scores a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025 in Minneapolis. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Miles Frazier (71) during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Miles Frazier (71) during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Miles Frazier (71) during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025 in Inglewood, Calif. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Dominic Lovett (19) during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025 in Cincinnati. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Dominic Lovett (19) during an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
"We have to each get better and want to get better," he said. "Not only for ourselves but for each other. I think that starts with the offseason. Calling the boys and checking up on them more often. Creating those relationships.
"Going into this offseason we just have to find who we are and get our swagger back and confidence back.
"Right now, we have to get better. That's the most important thing. If you look too far ahead, you're kind of just wasting your time on things that are out of our control. But if we dominate today and we really care about today, then that will set us up."
