The Detroit Lions made an aggressive trade up to select Georgia guard Tate Ratledge in the second round.
The Detroit Lions have traded up three spots from 60 to 57 and selected Georgia guard Tate Ratledge.
Here are the terms of the trade:
Lions get:
- Pick 57
- Pick 230
Broncos get:
- Pick 60
- Pick 130
Ratledge was one of the highest scorers on our Grit Index, and a standout at the NFL combine both for his interview and his performance on the field.
Tate Ratledge is a OG prospect in the 2025 draft class. He scored a 9.96 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 8 out of 1720 OG from 1987 to 2025. https://t.co/tKsckgsGuy pic.twitter.com/hCMi5XNEuS
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 30, 2025
A three year starter at Ratledge, he exclusively played right guard for the Bulldogs. In Detroit, he’ll immediately contend for one of the starting spots left by the free agency departure of Kevin Zeitler. Ratledge, Graham Glasgow, and second-year guard Christian Mahogany will likely contend for one of those starting spots.
The Lions have said all offseason they are committed to keeping the offensive line a strength.
“I don’t care how good we ever get on the offensive line, that one right there is too important for not only our team, our quarterback, everything, it’s our identity, man,” general manager Brad Holmes said in January. “So, I think just that alone is just – it’s always going to be at the forefront.”
Ratledge was the Lions’ second-round pick in our Community Mock Draft . Here’s what Erik Schlitt had to say about him:
A consistent dominator in the run game, Ratledge has the power to latch onto and control defenders, driving them out of the play. As a pass protector, he has the instincts to spot defensive line games (like stunts and blitzes), the athleticism to adjust on the fly, and the anchor to halt a pass rush on the move. His punch timing can be off at times, which forces him to lean on a defender instead of maintaining distance and control.
Previous selections:
Lions remaining picks
- Round 3, Pick 38 (102 overall)
- Round 6, Pick 20 (196 overall)
- Round 7, Pick 12 (228 overall)
- Round 7, Pick 14 (230 overall)
- Round 7, Pick 28 (244 overall)
Top remaining needs for Lions:
- Defensive end
- Guard
Defensive tackle- Wide receiver
- Safety
- Linebacker
NFL Draft schedule
Day 2
What: Rounds 2-3
When: Friday, April 26 — 7 p.m. ET until around 11:30 p.m.
TV: ABC, ESPN, NFL Network
Online streaming: ESPN app, NFL Plus, ABC
When will the Lions pick: Estimated times here
Day 3
What: Rounds 4-7
When: Saturday, April 27 — Noon ET until around 7 p.m. ET
TV: ABC, ESPN, NFL Network
Online streaming: ESPN app, NFL Plus, ABC