The Detroit Lions head into the offseason with one of the more intriguing interior offensive line situations in the league-and that’s saying something for a unit that’s long been a strength in Motown. But with a hole to fill at center and some uncertainty at right guard, general manager Brad Holmes is keeping his options open.
One name that keeps surfacing? Tate Ratledge.
And Holmes isn’t exactly hiding it.
When asked about the center position following Detroit’s postseason exit, Holmes didn’t offer a definitive answer-but he didn’t shy away from Ratledge’s name either.
"Obviously, you know, Tate is obviously an option, for sure. He's done it before.
He did it in OTAs. Didn't think he was a fish out of water."
Translation: Ratledge may not be the long-term answer yet, but the Lions clearly believe he’s capable of holding down the middle-at least enough to keep them from diving headfirst into the free-agent market for a high-priced center like Connor McGovern or Tyler Linderbaum.
If Ratledge does slide over to center, that opens up a new question: who fills his spot at right guard? Right now, the in-house answer is Kayode Awosika.
But based on what we saw in 2025, that might not be the most stable solution. Awosika struggled when pressed into action, and while he brings some versatility, the Lions could be looking for more consistency and power at the position.
Enter Keylan Rutledge.
The Georgia Tech product is making waves at the Senior Bowl, and not just for his name-which, yes, would pair hilariously well with Ratledge to form a Ratledge-Rutledge interior duo. But jokes aside, Rutledge is earning real attention for his play.
On the first day of Senior Bowl practices, he turned heads with a physical, aggressive showing that had coaches asking him to dial it back. That’s not a bad problem to have.
“National team coaches repeatedly had to tell Georgia Tech OL Keylan Rutledge to stay up and tone down the physicality in team period,” wrote ESPN’s Jordan Reid. “He took snaps at all three interior spots during that session and finished it with a nasty pancake. Very impressive start to practice for him.”
That kind of versatility-combined with raw strength and nastiness at the point of attack-is exactly what teams look for in Day 2 offensive line prospects. Rutledge has the frame (6'3", 316 pounds), the tape (zero sacks allowed in 2025), and the production (just five pressures and two QB hits all year) to back up the buzz.
And for a Lions team that’s prided itself on building from the trenches, Rutledge feels like a natural fit. Even if he’s not a plug-and-play starter from Day 1, he brings depth and upside to a group that could use both. If Detroit does decide to roll with Ratledge at center, adding Rutledge at right guard could stabilize the interior without needing to break the bank in free agency.
Holmes has shown a patient, calculated approach to roster building in recent years-he doesn’t force moves, and he rarely overpays. That philosophy might lead him to the draft rather than the open market this spring. And if that’s the case, Rutledge could be the kind of high-upside, high-floor pick that pays off in a big way.
So yes, we might be looking at a Ratledge-Rutledge combo anchoring the middle of Detroit’s offensive line. And while the name symmetry is fun, what matters more is the physicality, versatility, and upside both players bring.
If the Lions go that route, they won’t just be leaning on clever wordplay-they’ll be betting on two guys who can move bodies and protect the pocket. And that’s a bet worth making.