Georgia continues its run on the recruiting trail with the commitment of East Northport four-star defensive lineman Preston Carey.

 

Carey is Georgia’s 26th commit in the class of 2026. Georgia has landed nine pledges in the last week. Carey is the second defensive lineman to commit to Georgia on Monday.

 

The Bulldogs add Carey to a group of five pledges joining four-stars James Johnson, Carter Luckie, three-star Corey Howard, and also junior college transfer Seven Cloud.

 

Carey chose Georgia over Florida, Auburn and Rutgers. The Bulldogs hosted Carey on an official visit back on May 16. The Bulldogs made an impression over the weekend.

 

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Carey was impressed with Georgia’s development and relationships.

 

“It was great,” Carey told DawgsHQ back on May 20. “I love the program and culture Georgia has built. It helped me a lot. I got to spend a lot of time with the players and everyone at Georgia, and they all love the culture, and everyone has the same desire to be elite.”

 

Carey is also impressed by Georgia’s NFL pedigree.

 

“Georgia is the best school in the country over the past five years at producing first-round talent at defensive line, and that is a fact, and that stood out,” Carey said.

 

What numbers are the Lions looking at for Jahmyr Gibbs if they want to keep their running back?

 

Rohan Chakravarthi has contributed to SB Nation’s NFL coverage since 2022.

The Detroit Lions have been one of the top scouting teams in the NFL over the past two years, and the 2023 NFL Draft was one of their best in recent memory.

 

Detroit nabbed four top-tier starters with their first four picks: running back Jahmyr Gibbs (first round), linebacker Jack Campbell (first round), tight end Sam LaPorta (second round), and safety Brian Branch (second round).

 

Gibbs, LaPorta, and Branch have all made the Pro Bowl, with the running back being the lone two-timer to begin his career. He’s formed a strong duo with veteran David Montgomery, helping aid one of the top rushing attacks in the NFL.

 

As the former first-rounder enters his third year with the NFL, he’s already become one of the best backs in the NFL, rushing for 1,412 yards and 16 touchdowns, while catching 52 passes for 517 yards and four scores as a second-year pro.

 

So, of course, the conversation of Gibbs potentially being the highest-paid back in the NFL has started to come up. The running back can begin extension talks starting next offseason, potentially becoming the next homegrown star for years to come in Detroit.

 

What could a potential extension look like?

 

Baseline numbers for a Jahmyr Gibbs contract

Well, given his current trajectory, Gibbs could very well be the highest-paid running back in the NFL next offseason.

 

Saquon Barkley reset the market this offseason with a two-year, $41.2 million extension, topping Christian McCaffrey’s two-year, $38 million extension from last offseason. Derrick Henry also got a two-year, $30 million deal, coming in third behind the top two.

 

A key to note is Barkley and McCaffrey each had two years left on their remaining deal. Barkley’s total compensation now is four years for $68.7 million, while McCaffrey’s total compensation was four years for $61.8 million.

 

Those two deals seem like the best baselines for a Gibbs deal, and it’s noteworthy that the Lions star is several years younger than both of his fellow running backs.

 

Other running backs who could be in line for an extension this offseason or next offseason could be Jonathan Taylor, Joe Mixon, Breece Hall, Kenneth Walker, James Cook, Devon Achane, Bijan Robinson, and Isiah Pacheco.

 

Those numbers could end up changing what Gibbs could demand, but let’s attempt to project a potential extension for the star back.

 

Projecting a Jahmyr Gibbs contract for the Lions in 2026

Gibbs has made the Pro Bowl in his first two seasons, while really breaking out this past season with nearly 2,000 yards from scrimmage.

 

So, the bar has already been set high when it comes to his contract extension. It feels that Gibbs should end up getting a market-setting deal, with a four-year extension being on par with other running back extensions, as well as the Lions’ standard.

 

Barkley’s $20.6 million average annual value currently leads the way for running backs, so that’s the benchmark. Guaranteed money will also be important. Looking back at previous extensions, Christian McCaffrey got $38 million in total guarantees on his four-year, $64 million contract with the Carolina Panthers.

 

The Lions will likely add void years to spread out cap hits, and they’ll also have two years left on Gibbs’s rookie deal, including the fifth-year option that Detroit should pick up next year. That will help balance out the new money on a Gibbs extension, as the total compensation will be spread out over six years, not including any void years.

 

Gibbs could also choose to look for a three-year deal to get to the free agent market earlier, but contracts are usually renegotiated when there’s no guaranteed money remaining. So, he should end up getting another extension if he remains a top-tier back throughout his 20s.

 

Ultimately, I think Gibbs will break the bank, setting records in a number of major categories.

 

Projection: 4 years, $84 million, $44 million in guarantees

 

With Lions training camp on the horizon, we are bringing back our camp preview series. Quarterbacks are the first position group on the docket.

 

As we inch closer to the Detroit Lions’ 2025 training camp, we are bringing back our roster preview series to help prepare you for all the end-of-summer festivities. If you’re not familiar with this series, we guide you position-by-position through the roster, examining the starting, reserve, and specialty roles, which players are competing for which jobs, and project how the Lions will approach each situation.

 

In this initial installment, we turn our attention to the quarterback position, speculate on current and future roles, and discuss how many of the reserves make the 53-man roster.

 

Setting the table

The Lions ended the 2024 season with four quarterbacks under contract.

Starter Jared Goff and reserve Hendon Hooker remain under contract in 2025, Teddy Bridgewater returned to coaching high school football in Florida, and practice squader Jake Fromm signed a futures contract in January. When the free agency period opened, the Lions signed veteran Kyle Allen to a one-year contract, and just over a month later, released Fromm from his deal.

 

Roster construction

During the Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell regime, the Lions have taken slightly different approaches to the quarterback position in each season.

However, the underlying philosophy has remained consistent: keep two quarterbacks on the active roster and one on the practice squad during the regular season, while also maintaining the flexibility to add another quarterback to the active roster late in the season and playoffs for emergency purposes.

 

Let’s take a look at what they’ve done in the previous four seasons:

 

2021: The Lions kept three quarterbacks on the active roster, including Goff, David Blough, and Tim Boyle, mainly due to the NFL’s COVID restrictions.

2022: Goff and Nate Sudfeld were on the active roster—Boyle was on the practice squad.

2023: Goff and Bridgewater were on the active roster, Blough on the practice squad, Sudfeld was on injured reserve, and Hooker on the PUP list. Hooker would eventually be removed from the PUP and placed on the active roster late in the season.

2024: Goff and Hooker were on the active roster, with Fromm on the practice squad. Bridgewater would rejoin the active roster late in the season as the Lions’ “emergency third quarterback,” but assumed QB2 duties for the playoffs, with Hooker acting as the Lions’ EQB3.

The battleground

Entering 2025 training camp, Goff is once again the established starter, leaving only a couple of questions for this position group.

 

Can Hooker hold off Allen for the Lions QB2 job?

 

Hooker won the Lions’ QB2 job in 2024 and maintained the role throughout the regular season, but he was jumped on the game-day depth chart for the playoffs when the Lions opted to turn to Bridgewater for their backup role. While it’s easy to argue that the Lions lost faith in Hooker for the playoffs, I believe the move was made because of the team’s unrelenting confidence in Bridgewater, as opposed to a lack of confidence in Hooker.

At the same time, the decision certainly opens the door for criticism of Hooker and allows for speculation on his current status on the depth chart.

 

With 19 NFL starts, Allen brings more experience than Hooker to the competition, but it’s important to note that the majority of his game exposure came early in his career (2018-19), and he has been relegated to a reserve role for the last five seasons. For context, Allen was QB2 on his respective roster from 2020 to 2023, but he was behind quarterbacks Dwayne Haskins and Taylor Heinicke (Washington), Davis Mills (Houston), and Josh Allen (Buffalo). Last season in Pittsburgh, he was QB3 behind Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, only seeing the field for a total of two snaps (Wilson was injured and Fields was being examined for a concussion).

 

During training camp, look for the Lions to give Hooker and Allen an opportunity to earn the QB2 role, likely rotating days where each practices with the second-team offense.

 

Would Hooker or Allen accept a position on the practice squad?

 

Seeing as the Lions routinely only keep two quarterbacks on the active roster, it’s fair to speculate whether either Hooker or Allen would accept a spot on the practice squad—seeing as both have spent the majority of their careers on the active roster.

 

Regarding Hooker, there’s enough upside to his game that, if released, it’s entirely possible he wouldn’t even get the opportunity to join the practice squad, as he would be exposed to waivers. It’s also possible he seeks out an opportunity that would afford him a better shot at competing for a starting role. As for Allen, he may be interested in exploring other options, as he’s historically found a role as a higher-level backup.

 

Will the Lions add a fourth quarterback?

 

In an ideal situation, the Lions would prefer to roll with just three quarterbacks during camp, allowing them to utilize the extra roster spots on different position groups. However, if the Lions aren’t confident they could get either backup to their practice squad, or if either backup suffers an injury, the Lions may consider adding a fourth quarterback to their training camp battle.

 

For example, when Hooker was injured during last year’s camp, the Lions added Fromm for depth purposes. Fromm’s performance in the Lions’ final preseason game earned him some extra looks, and he was eventually rewarded with a spot on the Lions’ practice squad.

 

Rohan Chakravarthi has contributed to SB Nation’s NFL coverage since 2022.

One of the more polarizing draft picks in recent years for the Detroit Lions was taking wide receiver Jameson Williams in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

 

After selecting Aidan Hutchinson with the No. 2 pick that year, the Lions made a massive move up, trading pick Nos. 32, 34, and 66 for pick Nos. 12 and 46, ultimately selecting Williams at No. 12.

 

It was a gamble for Detroit, not only because of the fact that they moved up 20 spots, but also due to Williams recovering from a torn ACL that he sustained in his final year of college.

 

The recovery kept Williams out for much of his rookie season, as the wideout played in just six games. Then, in 2022, Williams was suspended for the first six games (eventually reduced to four) for violating the NFL’s gambling policy. He played in 12 games that year, catching 24 passes for 354 yards and two touchdowns.

 

2024 was Williams’ true breakout campaign, as the former first-rounder caught 58 passes for 1,001 yards and seven touchdowns, turning into an explosive play machine. He went for over 100 yards three times, while reaching the 75-yard mark another eight times, becoming the No. 2 option behind Amon-Ra St. Brown.

 

The Lions were clearly pleased with Williams’s breakout season, as they picked up his fifth-year option for 2026, guaranteeing the wideout a $15.493 million salary. Of course, with picking up the option comes extension talks, as Detroit has done a good job of keeping their homegrown stars over the past few years.

 

This offseason, the Lions have already extended safety Kerby Joseph and linebacker Derrick Barnes. Last year, it was Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Penei Sewell, Alim McNeill, Taylor Decker, DJ Reader, Graham Glasgow, and David Montgomery.

 

Now, it could be Williams’s turn, as the Lions may look to secure a long-term extension for the speedy wideout ahead of the season. Wide receiver prices are only going up, and Williams could secure himself a massive contract with another 1,000-yard season.

 

So, what could an extension look like?

 

Baseline numbers for a Jameson Williams contract extension

There have been a couple of massive extensions at the wide receiver position this offseason, but those aren’t the only deals to keep an eye on.

 

Quality wideouts such as Khalil Shakir, Rashod Bateman, and Darius Slayton each earned multi-year extensions worth at least $12 million annually.

 

Shakir earned the biggest deal, landing a four-year, $53 million deal from the Buffalo Bills. Bateman recently got a three-year, $36.75 million extension, while Slayton got a three-year, $36 million deal much earlier in the offseason.

 

Honestly, those three contracts seem like the floor for Williams after his 2024 campaign. He’s more than a year younger than both Shakir and Bateman and four years younger than Slayton. Additionally, neither of those three receivers has yet to put up a 1,000-yard season like Williams has.

 

A better comparison might be Jerry Jeudy, who earned a three-year, $52.5 million deal with $41 million guaranteed after being traded to the Cleveland Browns last offseason. Jeudy was a year older, entering his age-25 season, but had more consistency with three seasons over 750 yards in his first four years.

 

Still, it feels like Williams should do even better than that, given the rising market for wide receivers and his breakout 2024 campaign.

 

Projecting a new Jameson Williams deal

The Lions have inked several of their top young talents to extensions in recent years, and a new contract for Williams could be the next one in line.

 

Several of those extensions have been for four years, including ones for Jared Goff, Penei Sewell, Alim McNeill, Kerby Joseph, and even Jared Goff. But, given that Williams is coming off one strong season and still has two years of team control left on his rookie contract with the fifth-year option, it feels a three-year deal may be more reasonable.

 

That provides the Lions with a little more security, while allowing Williams to cash in and also bet on himself, potentially hitting free agency after his age-28 season.

 

When looking at the average annual value, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Lions’ wideout push the $20 million-per-year range. Yes, that would be a bit of a chance considering his resume. But, Williams does have two years and $18.13 million remaining on his rookie deal.

 

When projecting a three-year deal worth around $20 million, Williams would have a total compensation of five years and $78 million, which is just over $15 million a year and on par with some of the comparisons we listed above.

 

I see Williams coming in slightly above that $20 million range, with the guarantees evening out to give Detroit some flexibility.

 

 

 

As the Detroit Lions proved last year, depth can sometimes be as important as your top-end talent. You never know when or where the injury bug is going to hit, but when it does, you’d better be prepared.

 

Last year, it was the linebacker position (among others) for the Lions, and that’s where they had one of their best depth players waiting: Malcolm Rodriguez. Unfortunately, his season was cut short, making 2025 an extremely important year for his football future.

 

Malcolm Rodriguez

Expectations heading into 2024

With Derrick Barnes, Jack Campbell, and Alex Anzalone firmly ahead of him on the depth chart, Rodriguez was expected to be the primary backup at both off-ball linebacker positions.

 

Despite being a former starter for the Lions—and showing he can hang with an expanded defensive role—Rodriguez displayed a very positive attitude that impressed then-linebackers coach Kelvin Sheppard.

 

“A guy like Malcolm and you lose sight of a guy like this when you’re sitting up here talking about Jack Campbell, Jack Campbell, well those guys are his biggest fan and he’s their biggest fan,” Sheppard said.

“It’s times where I’m pulling guys off the field, and I’m like, ‘I gotta get him three reps.’ [Rodriguez] is like, ‘It’s all good, coach, I want him to play.’ And you rarely find that in this sport, where guys are competing for monetary prizes and things like that. But we’re fortunate to have that.”

 

Additionally, coming off a season in which he played 307 special teams snaps, Rodriguez figured to be a huge part of Detroit’s special teams unit.

 

Actual role in 2024

10 games (6 starts) — 318 defensive snaps

Stats: 43 tackles, 2 TFLs, 2.0 sacks, 1 pass defended, 1 fumble recovery

PFF defensive grade: 74.4 (16th out of 90 qualifying LBs —minimum 251 snaps)

PFF pass rush grade: 54.9 (t-70th out of 90)

PFF run defense grade: 87.1 (7th out of 90)

PFF tackling grade: 76.7 (13th out of 90)

Special teams grade (140 snaps): 62.6

 

As you may remember, the Lions suffered injuries early and often in 2024. Derrick Barnes was headed for a huge role, but an injury ended his season in Week 3.

 

Immediately, the Lions had to rely on Rodriguez to jump in and fill a critical defensive role (he had already had a rotational role of about 15-20 snaps a game). Unfortunately, Rodriguez suffered an ankle injury of his own in Week 8, causing him to essentially miss three games. But when he came back, he was needed more than ever.

 

Detroit’s linebacking corps took its biggest hit when Alex Anzalone broke his arm in Week 11. Rodriguez, again, was pushed into a critical role and responded with two of his best games of the season: he earned an impressive 80.9 PFF grade in 43 snaps against the Jaguars and followed up with an eight-tackle performance (and 85.2 PFF run defense grade) game against the Colts. Lions coach Dan Campbell was certainly grateful for his presence at the time.

 

“It’s good to get Rodrigo back because he does, he gives us a lot of flexibility,” Campbell said. He can play the WILL, he can play the SAM out in space, he’s been playing kind of that big nickel, and so having him back it does, it relieves a lot of pressure there.

 

And I thought, there again, I thought he played really well yesterday. He’s got a nose for the football, he’s aggressive, and he just, he has production back there, so it’s big getting him back.”

 

A mere 10 days after Campbell said that, Rodriguez suffered a torn ACL that would end his season.

 

Overall, Rodriguez proved he is still an absolute force in the run game, he can play multiple roles as the primary backup, and can still pitch in on special teams if he has to.

 

“Conservatively, November,” Campbell said, estimating Rodriguez’s return date. “Yeah, that’s probably the best way to say it. Probably November. Somewhere in there.”

 

That’s a terrible turn of events for Rodriguez, who is entering the final year of his rookie deal. Over the course of his first three seasons—mind you, as a sixth-round pick—he has started 24 games, picked up 151 total tackles, 2.0 sacks, two fumble recoveries, and some of the best special teams play the Lions have had in the Dan Campbell era.

 

In short, Rodriguez is exceptional depth with starting upside on defense and a four-core special teamer. Teams need players like that. But as he heads into 2025 needing a big season to justify his first major payday in the NFL, he’ll unfortunately miss around half of the year. And when he comes back, it’ll be tough to expect him to pick up where he left off.

 

Still, it’s a fascinating year for the 26-year-old linebacker. Can he put enough tape out there to justify getting a starter-level contract elsewhere?

 

Or will his future remain in Detroit? Barnes and Campbell are likely here long-term, but Alex Anzalone is currently heading into a contract year, and Detroit hasn’t extended him yet.

Do the Lions view Rodriguez as a younger replacement for Anzalone, and is there anything Rodriguez can do in a shortened year to convince them? Or would the Lions only consider an extension as the team’s primary backup?

 

It’s unfortunate Rodriguez won’t have the full season to prove he’s capable of being an NFL starter somewhere, but that could ultimately work to Detroit’s advantage. It would not be surprising if the Lions were able to retain him on a prove-it deal in 2026, and then let him find a starting gig elsewhere in 2027.

 

Either way, whatever amount of games Rodriguez plays in 2025, they’ll be critical to his future.

 

A trusted veteran with special teams chops and inside-out flexibility, Pat O’Connor enters camp with a familiar coach and a real shot at sticking in Detroit.

 

Training camp represents something different to every type of player in the NFL. For young players, it’s a chance to establish themselves as promising contributors. For star players, it’s time to remind everyone—including those young up-and-comers—that they’re the best at what they do. And for veterans on the proverbial roster bubbles, it’s one last shot to prove they still belong.

 

For defensive lineman Pat O’Connor, that opportunity means showing he can still add value to a loaded Detroit Lions front. The 31-year-old journeyman has carved out a role over the years with toughness, effort, and special teams reliability—but with younger talent pushing from below, O’Connor enters camp knowing nothing is guaranteed.

 

Pat O’Connor

Expectations heading into 2024

O’Connor was originally drafted by the Lions in the seventh round of the 2017 NFL Draft, but was cut at the end of training camp. He stuck around with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for seven seasons—be it on the practice squad or the active roster—before coming back to the Lions midway through training camp in 2024, signing with Detroit after John Cominsky suffered a torn MCL in practice.

 

With the Lions down a rotational defensive end, O’Connor could provide depth at the position should Detroit have to deal with any other injuries—they would. He also came to Detroit with a ton of experience on special teams, playing over 1,300 special teams snaps across all four phases with the Bucs.

 

Actual role in 2024

Note: Stats are regular season only unless otherwise stated

 

12 games (0 starts)

Stats: 18 tackles, 1 quarterback hit, 1.0 sack, two tackles for loss

PFF defensive grade: 43.5 (130th out of 146 qualifying DTs—minimum 193 snaps)

PFF pass rush grade: 55.3 (t-111th out of 146)

PFF run defense grade: 47.9 (t-94th out of 146)

PFF tackling grade: 28.2 (t-136th out of 146)

 

Although he didn’t crack the initial 53-man roster, instead ending up on Detroit’s practice squad to begin the year, it wasn’t long before O’Connor earned a call-up. Promoted from the practice squad ahead of Week 7, O’Connor went on to contribute in all 12 remaining regular season games, playing a career-high 245 defensive snaps.

 

Beyond the number of snaps he played, what stood out most was O’Connor’s versatility. Known mostly as a defensive end in his time with the Buccaneers, he stepped in primarily at nose tackle following Kyle Peko’s season-ending injury in Week 6 against the Dallas Cowboys—giving the Lions valuable depth across the line and a trusted veteran in the locker room.

 

“The guys love him. I love him,” former Lions defensive line coach Terrell Williams said about O’Connor last season. “He works his butt off. He does a good job on special teams, but more than anything, the position flexibility. Like, he can play nose tackle, end.”

 

Besides playing the most defensive snaps he ever had in a season, O’Connor also set season-high marks in pressures (10), tackles (18), and defensive run stops (4).

 

Outlook for 2025

Heading into free agency, the Lions had plenty of questions all along the defensive line. Alim McNeill’s injury would keep him sidelined well into the season, so who would play alongside DJ Reader? Was Levi Onwuzurike going to sign for a bag elsewhere after finally getting healthy and producing? What is the plan opposite of Aidan Hutchinson?

 

O’Connor was never expected to be the solution at the top of the depth chart, but the Lions have taken several steps this offseason to strengthen their defensive front, top to bottom.

Onwuzurike re-signed with the Lions on a very team-friendly deal, and they also made a relatively sizable investment in Roy Lopez, giving Detroit another rotational run defender. Marcus Davenport is back on a one-year deal with something to prove. In the draft, Tyleik Williams is another stout interior presence with pass-rushing upside à la McNeill—the guy he’ll eventually be playing next to—and Ahmed Hassanein is project with the attitude ripe for Dan Campbell’s leadership.

 

So where does that leave O’Connor?

 

O’Connor will enter camp with a few tangible advantages that could bolster his chances of sticking on Detroit’s roster. For one, and it can’t be overstated, his versatility is something the Lions covet in their defensive linemen. Combine that with his extensive experience on special teams and that’s something Detroit will certainly take into consideration when making their back-end roster calculations.

But perhaps most notably, the addition of Kacy Rodgers to Detroit’s coaching staff—O’Connor’s former position coach in Tampa Bay for five seasons—provides familiarity. Rodgers already understands O’Connor’s strengths, work habits, and role flexibility, and that could give him a clearer path to carving out a spot in an otherwise crowded defensive line room.

 

The Detroit tight end and his wife, Callahan, visited St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City and were blessed by Pope Leo XIV, a Chicago native.

 

 

 

The newlyweds, who tied the knot on June 14, traveled to the Vatican soon after, as captured in pictures on LaPorta’s Instagram.

 

Sam LaPorta and his wife Callahan get blessed by Pope Leo XIV.

Sam LaPorta and his wife Callahan get blessed by Pope Leo XIV. Instagram/_slaporta and callahanlaporta

NFL star downplays offseason surgery as Lions aim higher: ‘Super Bowl or nothing’

 

 

Sam LaPorta and his wife Callahan get blessed by Pope Leo XIV.

Sam LaPorta and his wife Callahan get blessed by Pope Leo XIV. Instagram/_slaporta and callahanlaporta

“Thank you to a very busy man for blessing me and my bride,” LaPorta wrote in the caption of his post. “A special moment we’ll never forget.”

 

Leo, named pope in May, and his sports allegiances have been written and discussed at length, which included the unearthing of footage of him at the 2005 World Series supporting his beloved White Sox.

 

The White Sox have leaned into the pope’s South Side baseball fandom, creating a mural inside Guaranteed Rate Field and opening up a standing offer to throw out the first pitch at a game.

 

 

 

Sam LaPorta #87 of the Detroit Lions takes the field prior to an NFL Football game against the Washington Commanders at Ford Field on January 18, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan.

Sam LaPorta of the Detroit Lions takes the field prior to an NFL Football game against the Washington Commanders at Ford Field on January 18, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. Getty Images

In late May, Vice President J.D. Vance gifted Leo, whose given name is Robert Francis Prevost, a Bears jersey with XIV and “Pope Leo” draped across the back of the dark uniform.

 

“Good choice,” Leo told the vice president.

 

New Bears head coach — and former Lions offensive coordinator — Ben Johnson said in early May that he “heard rumblings, but that hasn’t been discussed too much firsthand” on the pope’s football fandom.

 

 

 

As for the Lions, they finished last year with a sterling 15-2 regular season before getting bounced in the divisional round in the playoffs by the Commanders.

 

Sam LaPorta #87 of the Detroit Lions catches a pass for a touchdown during the second quarter on Commanders in the NFC Divisional Playoff at Ford Field on January 18, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan.

Sam LaPorta of the Detroit Lions catches a pass for a touchdown during the second quarter against the Commanders in the NFC Divisional Playoff at Ford Field on January 18, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. Getty Images

LaPorta followed up his Pro Bowl rookie campaign with 60 receptions for 726 yards and seven touchdowns.

 

Now, Detroit will be without both Johnson and former defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn — the new Jets head coach — as it looks to maintain supremacy in the NFC North.

 

 

 

Unlike previous years, the Detroit Lions will only have one attendee at 2025 Tight End University.

 

Tight End University is an annual event created by NFL legends George Kittle, Travis Kelce, and Greg Olsen. The week-long experience brings current NFL tight ends down to Nashville, Tennessee for a gauntlet of training events, partying, and all-around shenanigans—and it all kicks off on Monday.

 

In the past, several Detroit Lions players have been regular attendees, but this year, there will just be a single participant from the franchise. According to the Tight End University “Class of 2025” Instagram post, Shane Zylstra will be the only representative for the Lions this year among a class of 72 total players.

 

Last year, three different Lions attended the festivities: Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright, and Zylstra. A few weeks later, LaPorta spoke about the camp, talking about how nice it was to be recognized by so many of his peers after a strong rookie season in 2023.

 

“A lot of fun. It was cool to have peers, other tight ends across the league recognize me and say, ‘Hey, you had a fantastic year this year. Rookie tight ends, that’s not usually the case. The year you had, congrats on that,’” LaPorta said. “So it was cool to get acknowledged by a lot of those guys down there, and, of course, we had a lot of fun and learned a couple of things as well.”

 

This year, LaPorta isn’t there. We don’t know the exact reason why, but it’s worth nothing that the 24-year-old tight end got married just over a week ago. He also left this comment on Tight End University’s latest post:

 

So it seems likely that if LaPorta could have gone, he would’ve.

 

Regardless, it will be a good opportunity for Zylstra, who will be competing for the team’s third-string tight end job against veteran Kenny Yeboah and a pair of undrafted rookies (Zach Horton and Luke Deal).

 

If you want to follow all of the shenanigans of Tight End University, you can follow their account on Instagram here.

 

Tate Ratledge has the opportunity to follow in Frank Ragnow’s footsteps with the Lions.

 

 

Detroit Lions rookie Tate Ratledge is being tapped as a potential replacment to center Frank Ragnow fairly early in his NFL career. Ragnow’s retirement sent shockwaves through the league as he was one of the league’s premier interior offensive linemen, and as Detroit didn’t have an immediate way to backfill his role on the line.

 

Ratledge, a guard coming over from Georgia, has been earning reps in OTAs at center most frequently, getting more over veterans like Graham Glasgow and Trystan Colon, two guards with experience shifting over to center in their careers. Ratledge is seemingly doing a great job learning the position, though, as it has been reported he’s earned the most time at the position in practice.

 

This makes him a prime breakout candidate for the Lions this season. Offensive linemen don’t often get that sort of shine, but when you’re a team that rosters one of the best tackles in the NFL in Penei Sewell, it’s not unfamiliar territory. Ratledge came out of the draft as someone praised as a hugely impactful rookie – if utilized correctly – by ESPN’s Field Yates.

 

“Lions GM Brad Holmes has made it a point to target reliable and extremely tough players in the draft. That describes Ratledge well. He allowed only one sack in each of the past two seasons at Georgia and exudes toughness on tape. Kevin Zeitler’s departure to Tennessee opens a starting guard job in Detroit, and I like Ratledge’s chances to fill that role,” wrote Yates.

 

Ratledge a great candidate to have breakout rookie year for Lions

Ratledge told reporters prior to Ragnow’s retirement, even, that he’d gotten experience getting reps at center before getting drafted. He’s used to cross-training at guard and center from his days with the Bulldogs, so viewing him as a replacement for Ragnow isn’t far fetched.

 

The guard was ranked the second-best available interior offensive lineman available in this year’s draft by PFF, and ranked fourth overall amongst guards in the Power Four conferences in run blocking in 2024.

 

READ MORE: Lions beat writer dials up the heat on Jared Goff going into 2025

The guard was taken as a key part of Holmes’ push to shore up their trenches, which obviously paid off given Ragnow’s shocking retirement.

With a team like Detroit, Ratledge is in a great spot to not just develop into a solid center, but into a great one. He already has the run-blocking skills necessary to backfill Ragnow’s impact. It’s just a matter of getting live reps at center for the rookie to see if he can settle into a new role on the line.

 

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