Pro Football Focus believes Lions guard Tate Ratledge is poised for a breakout 2026 season after a strong rookie year and elite run-blocking grades.
The Detroit Lions may already have their next breakout star hiding in plain sight, and Pro Football Focus thinks the leap is coming in a big way.
According to PFF, second-year guard Tate Ratledge is poised to take a major step forward in 2026 after an impressive rookie campaign that flew a bit under the national radar.
Ratledge didn’t just crack the starting lineup in Year 1 — he owned it.
The former Georgia standout started at right guard and led the entire Lions offense with 1,088 snaps, a massive workload for any rookie, let alone one playing in the trenches. And the grading backs it up:
- 70.3 overall PFF grade (2nd among qualified rookie guards)
- 73.5 run-blocking grade (also 2nd among rookie guards)
In other words, Detroit may have quietly found a long-term fixture on the interior of the offensive line.
Where the real ceiling comes into play is in pass protection. While Ratledge was already strong in the run game — fitting perfectly into Detroit’s physical identity — PFF noted that his college tape at Georgia showed high-end pass-blocking traits. If that part of his game continues to catch up at the NFL level, the Lions could soon be looking at a well-above-average starting guard, not just a solid one.
That’s a big deal for an offense built around:
- A timing-based passing game with Jared Goff
- A dominant run game featuring Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery
- Heavy play-action concepts under offensive coordinator Drew Petzing
Interior stability is the backbone of everything Detroit wants to do, and Ratledge’s durability, power, and technique already make him a tone-setter. A Year-2 jump in recognition, consistency, and pass protection could push him into the league’s upper tier at the position.
Quiet rookie seasons often turn into loud sophomore breakouts.
If Pro Football Focus is right, Tate Ratledge could be the next Detroit lineman to go from “nice piece” to “cornerstone” in 2026.
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Category: General Sports
