Lions stabilize interior offensive line with Tate Ratledge, why this pick is a steal and how fast it'll pay off, they also have the best mullet in the NFL now
Detroit Lions fans have been begging for an edge rusher opposite Aidan Hutchinson for so long now, they'll have to keep waiting. The good news is that the Lions have found their Kevin Zeitler replacement in Georgia's Tate Ratledge. Ratledge is coming off a solid year in which he allowed just six pressures and one […]
Detroit Lions fans have been begging for an edge rusher opposite Aidan Hutchinson for so long now, they'll have to keep waiting. The good news is that the Lions have found their Kevin Zeitler replacement in Georgia's Tate Ratledge.
Ratledge is coming off a solid year in which he allowed just six pressures and one sack. In three years as a starter in Georgia, he allowed just 18 pressures and two sacks.
Here's our A to Z Sports scouting report on Ratledge:
Tate Ratledge Scouting Report
Tate Ratledge, OL, Georgia
Age: 23 (4/26/2001)
A to Z Sports Expected Draft Position: No. 63
Pre-Draft Round Projection: No. 2
"Offensive line is relatively strong at the top of the class, but there are some interesting players available on day two. One of those is Georgia guard Tate Ratledge. He suffered an ankle injury that required tightrope surgery, but he came back and played well throughout. He was a five-star recruit in 2020 who became a three-year starter on a really good offensive line at Georgia. Ratledge is a scheme versatile player with elite athleticism and a mullet to match. Overall, Ratledge is a player who could start day one but should be a definitely good starter by the end of his rookie contract." –Tyler Foreness
Career Projection: Eventual good starter
While our draft team is rating Ratledge as an eventual good starter, the Lions might see him as someone who can slot in as a starter right away. He played all right guard in his three seasons at Georgia and should be expected to take that role in Detroit. That starts a war between Christian Mahogany and Graham Glasgow on the left side, and I have to say that Mahogany might have the upper hand at this point.
On top of all that, Rateledge has the best mullet in the NFL on day one. Look at this thing flow in the wind.
