ClutchPoints
The Detroit Lions are a prime candidate for regression heading into the 2025 NFL season. Detroit had its best season in franchise history last year, winning 15 games and securing the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs. Sadly, their defense crumbled against the Commanders and the Lions exited the playoffs as quickly as they joined.
A lot has changed in Detroit since then. The Lions lost both of their coordinators to head coaching jobs this offseason. They were replaced by John Morton, who was in Detroit in 2022, and former linebackers coach Kelvin Sheppard.
Detroit has also faced plenty of turnover on the roster between NFL free agency and the 2025 NFL Draft.
The Lions already got a good look at their new players during rookie minicamp, OTAs, and mandatory minicamp. Now training camp is the next big test for every Lions player on the roster, both young and old.
But which players should Lions fans be watching ahead of training camp? And which position will have the most exciting training camp battle?
Below we will explore the Lions’ most intense positional battle heading into NFL training camp.
It will be no surprise to most Lions fans that the interior of the offensive line is the fiercest training camp battle.
Detroit’s o-line was thrown into disarray in early June when Lions center Frank Ragnow surprisingly retired before the 2025 season. The Lions were already gearing up for a camp battle at right guard, but Ragnow’s retirement significantly changed the situation.
The Lions have two starting spots open on the offensive line, in addition to a pressing question about who should replace Ragnow.
Fans may not have been aware of Ragnow’s retirement ahead of time, but the organization probably had a few clues.
Detroit loaded up on interior offensive linemen in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Lions added guard Tate Ratledge in the second round and guard Miles Frazier in the fifth round. That doesn’t mean the Lions plan to play either player at center. Instead, the team simply knew they needed depth at the position sooner rather than later.
There is already speculation that Ratledge could take over at center for Detroit.
Ratledge gave the center position a shot during rookie minicamp. He admitted that it is certainly an adjustment.
“You gotta say a lot more,” Ratledge said after practice during rookie minicamp. “You gotta know the safety rotation, stuff like that, know where the point’s going. At guard most of the time you’re listening to the center tell you where to go. At center, like I said, you’re telling everybody else where to go.”
Ratledge has plenty of promise heading into his rookie season, which makes converting him to center quite tempting. After all, a starting-caliber center is worth much more than a guard.
All of that said, there are risks in handing the job over to a rookie. Especially ahead of an important...
