Pride of Detroit
While you’re trying to be a better person in 2026, there’s no reason the Detroit Lions shouldn’t be doing the same. And just in case they aren’t working on their own New Year’s resolution list, I’ve got one prepared for them right here.
Here are five things the Lions should do this year to make 2026 a much better year than 2025.
Yes, we’re going to start out with the most stereotypical resolution of all—and this one doesn’t require a gym membership that is impossible to cancel. The Detroit Lions need to spend the early parts of the year rehabbing. That includes key players like Sam LaPorta, Terrion Arnold, Brian Branch, and Kerby Joseph.
Beyond that, they need to find a way to stay healthy in 2026. It’s getting quite ridiculous for this team to constantly find themselves at the top of lists of games lost due to injury. I’m not here to call out the medical staff, because, quite frankly, I don’t know enough about what they do to blame them for Detroit’s injury situation. But, obviously, this should be an area of focus this offseason to find some answers. Revamp the prehab program, update the workout equipment, move their training facility off of sacred burial grounds. Do whatever it takes to get through the 2026 season with even an average amount of injuries.
At the heart of the Lions’ identity is their offensive line. A good one opens up the run game, and allows a pocket quarterback like Jared Goff to operate cleanly and surgically.
At the heart of the offensive line is one of the most underrated positions in football: center. After suddenly losing Frank Ragnow to a June retirement, the Lions had to scramble to find a replacement. They weren’t in the worst position, with two in-home options: veteran Graham Glasgow and rookie Tate Ratledge. Unfortunately, neither really worked out. Ratledge, a college guard, was given a couple week of reps at center in training camp before Detroit pulled that plug. Glasgow won the job, and while he brought the necessary smarts and experience to the position, the body just isn’t holding up like it used to for the 33-year-old.
In 2026, there is no clear answer. Glasgow is a pretty clear candidate as a cap casualty ($8.4 million cap hit with only $2.9 million in guarantees left), and he may also just choose to retire. Ratledge at center is still “on the table,” but that comes with its own risks and shifts the vacancy to right guard.
A more tolerable solution is to invest in a plug-and-play veteran who can provide some smarts and stability from Week 1 on. The free agency pool looks decent right now, with Tyler Linderbaum and Connor McGovern leading the class, but who knows if either will actually hit the market?
No 401(k) needed, but the Lions could use a little more foresight in planning for the aging...
