A lackluster 9-8 season and 4th place finish in the NFC North brought about a pivotal offseason for a Lions team that is supposed to be in the middle of a Super Bowl window. With the Taylor Decker saga ending with his release and a glaring hole at center, re-working the offensive line became priority number one for the front office when free agency began on Monday.
In 2023 and 2024, Detroit boasted one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, resulting in an elite offense that sat atop the league in both passing and rushing. The 2025 line regressed significantly after Frank Ragnow’s retirement, Taylor Decker’s repeated injuries, and poor play at left guard and center. For the offense to return to peak, consistent form, the offensive line has to be among the league’s best.
Cade Mays as the new center
Brad Holmes moved quickly to address the line, signing former Panthers center Cade Mays to a three-year, $25 million deal in the opening hours of free agency. Tyler Linderbaum fell far outside the Lions price range, signing with the Raiders at an average value of $27 million per year. With several retirements league-wide last week, the demand for starting centers far exceeded the free agent supply. Taking these factors into account, Cade Mays is the best-case outcome for the Lions at center.
Mays, a sixth-round pick in 2022 out of Georgia and Tennessee, struggled throughout his first two seasons in the NFL and ended up being released before the 2024 season. He returned to Carolina early in the ‘24 season and took the starting center job due to injuries. He started 13 games last season for the Panthers and graded out as the 14th-best center in 2025 according to PFF.
He is a better pass-blocker than run-blocker. He did not allow a single sack last season, a welcome sight for Jared Goff after the disaster he dealt with in 2025. Goff needs a clean pocket to have success since he cannot escape and scramble. While he isn’t Frank Ragnow, Mays is one of the better centers in pass protection. While not as effective in the running game, there is reason for optimism that Mays continues to improve as he has done in pass pro. To take the next step, he needs to do a better job in zone schemes and getting to the second level blocking. But, at minimum, the Lions landed an above-average center in a thin market for a good price.
With Mays established at center, Tate Ratledge entrenched at right guard, and Penei Sewell occupying one of the tackle spots, the offensive line is in a better spot already than it was a season ago. It is apparent that the other tackle spot will be filled via the draft. I’d pencil in the 17th overall pick as an offensive tackle for the Lions.
Next steps along the line
That leaves left guard as the final question mark. Christian Mahogany, a sixth-round pick in 2024, did nothing to inspire confidence that he is a quality starter going forward. 2025 fifth-round pick Myles Frazier saw playing time late in the season, but did not stand out. It is fair to argue that, if the Lions truly view themselves as a Super Bowl contender, they should find an upgrade at LG as well. Ideally, it would come in the form of a veteran free agent, similar to Kevin Zeitler from two seasons ago. But, I am not sure that Brad Holmes views things the same way. If I had to guess, the Lions will enter training camp with a battle between Mahogany, Frazier, and Juice Scruggs for the starting job at left guard.
The Lions also signed offensive tackle, and Michigan native, Larry Borom. A five-year NFL veteran with 38 games of starting experience, Boron quietly played well in Miami last season. Dan Skipper’s retirement, and a general lack of depth, made it important to bring in an experienced tackle like Borom for depth. He is not being brought in to start, but will serve as a serviceable option should a starter go down.
As of now, the starting line projects to be Penei Sewell and the 17th overall pick in the draft at the tackle spots, Cade Mays at center, Tate Ratledge at right guard, and one of Christian Mahogany or Miles Frazier at left guard. Assuming the rookie tackle plays well enough, that is a quality offensive line. Sewell, Mays, and Ratledge form a solid core. Starting a rookie always comes with apprehension, but it has to be done. Getting the offensive line back to the top of the league is the number one requirement for the Lions to find themselves back in the Super Bowl mix in 2026, and they are on the path to doing so early in free agency.
