A former Georgia Bulldog has already earned a starting role in the NFL. Rookie Tate Ratledge is slated to start at right guard for the Detroit Lions, according to the Detroit Free Press.
The Lions were experimenting making him the starting center after Frank Ragnow surprisingly retired on June 2. However, veteran offensive lineman Graham Glasgow won the role, leaving Ratledge to take Glasnow’s spot at right guard.
Lions offensive line coach John Morton is still feeling positive about Ratledge’s development. “I love how smart he is. And he’s just going to continue to grow,” Morton said. “I mean, I thought he did an exceptional job when he was at center. I mean, that’s a lot mentally. Different snap counts and audibles. It was a lot and I thought he did a pretty good job. I’m really happy where he’s at.”
Despite losing out on the center spot, Ratledge will immediately start for a Detroit Lions offensive line that has been one of the strongest in the NFL in recent years. He’ll have two-time All-Pro Penei Sewell helping him block on the right side.
Ratledge was one of several former Georgia players drafted by the Lions, along with Dominic Lovett and Dan Jackson. The Lions picked him in the second round of the 2025 NFL draft, and he earned that selection thanks to his resume and athleticism.
Ratledge was Georgia’s starting right guard from 2022-2024. With the Bulldogs, Ratledge earned AP All-American Second Team in 2023 and AP All-American Third Team in 2024, despite missing five games due to an ankle injury against Kentucky in Week 3.
At the 2025 NFL combine, Ratledge put up unreal numbers with a 4.97 second 40-yard dash (fourth-best among offensive linemen), a vertical jump of 32 inches, and a time of 7.38 seconds on the cone drill. Now, the Lions will pair his athleticism with Penei Sewell to create one of the most imposing offensive lines in the league.
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