On the roster: Taylor Decker, Penei Sewell, Frank Ragnow, Jonah Jackson, Halapoulivaati Vaitai, Graham Glasgow, Matt Nelson, Colby Sorsdal, Logan Stenberg, Kayode Awosika, Obinna Eze, Brad Cecil, Ryan Swoboda, Connor Galvin, Germain Ifedi, Darrin Paulo, Ross Pierschbacher, Max Pircher
| Name | Games | Sacks allowed | Penalties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taylor Decker | 17 | 4.0 | 6 |
| Penei Sewell | 17 | 1.5 | 8 |
| Frank Ragnow | 16 | 0.0 | 3 |
| Jonah Jackson | 13 | 0.0 | 3 |
| Halapoulivaati Vaitai | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| Graham Glasgow^ | 17 | 4.0 | 7 |
| Matt Nelson | 11 | 0.0 | 2 |
| Colby Sorsdal* | 13 | -- | -- |
| Logan Stenberg | 16 | 1.5 | 3 |
| Kayode Awosika | 10 | 1.0 | 0 |
| Obinna Eze | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| Brad Cecil* | 12 | -- | -- |
| Ryan Swoboda* | 14 | -- | -- |
| Connor Galvin* | 13 | -- | -- |
| Germain Ifedi^ | 17 | 0.0 | 0 |
| Darrin Paulo | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| Ross Pierschbacher | 3 | 0.0 | 0 |
| Max Pircher | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
^with another team *college stats
Best competition: Who starts at right guard?
The two main players in the hunt for Detroit's only open starting spot upfront are Vaitai and Glasgow, though others could put themselves into the conversation with a good training camp.
Vaitai had the job in 2021 and played well, allowing no sacks and committing just two penalties in 15 starts. He missed all of last year after suffering a back injury the last week of the preseason. He contemplated retirement this offseason, but wanted to be part of something he thinks can be special in Detroit in 2023. He wants his starting job back.
Glasgow spent his first four seasons in Detroit before signing with Denver in free agency in 2020 and playing the last three years for the Broncos. He started 13 of the 17 games he played in last year, allowing four sacks and committing seven penalties.
View photos of the Detroit Lions offensive linemen heading into training camp.
Detroit Lions tackle Taylor Decker (68) during OTAs at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 2, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell (58) during OTAs at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on May 23, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions guard Halapoulivaati Vaitai (72) during minicamp at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 6, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow (77) during OTAs at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 2, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions guard Jonah Jackson (73) during OTAs at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on May 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Colby Sorsdal (75) during OTAs at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 14, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tackle Taylor Decker (68), Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow (77) during OTAs at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on May 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions guard Jonah Jackson (73) during minicamp at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 7, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions guard Halapoulivaati Vaitai (72) during OTAs at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on May 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Graham Glasgow (60) during OTAs at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on May 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow (77) during OTAs at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on May 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions guard Ross Pierschbacher (66) during OTAs at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 2, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions guard Halapoulivaati Vaitai (72) during OTAs at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 2, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions guard Logan Stenberg (71) during OTAs at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on May 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell (58) during minicamp at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 7, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Graham Glasgow (60) during OTAs at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 2, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tackle Darrin Paulo (69) during offseason workouts at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on May 10, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Colby Sorsdal (75) during OTAs at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 12, 2023. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tackle Ryan Swoboda (62) during OTAs at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 14, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell (58) during OTAs at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 2, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tackle Matt Nelson (67) during OTAs at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on May 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions guard Kayode Awosika (74) during offseason workouts at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on May 3, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Connor Galvin (76) during OTAs at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on May 31, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tackle Ryan Swoboda (62), Detroit Lions tackle Germain Ifedi (70) during OTAs at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 2, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tackle Taylor Decker (68) during minicamp at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 8, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions guard Jonah Jackson (73), Detroit Lions tackle Obinna Eze (65), Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell (58), Detroit Lions tackle Darrin Paulo (69), Detroit Lions tackle Taylor Decker (68) during offseason workouts at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on May 8, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tackle Obinna Eze (65) during offseason workouts at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on May 10, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tackle Matt Nelson (67), Detroit Lions tackle Taylor Decker (68) during OTAs at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 2, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Brad Cecil (64) during OTAs at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 14, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Graham Glasgow (60) during OTAs at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 2, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Twentyman's take: I give the early edge to Vaitai in the competition for the right guard spot. The Lions have one of the top two offensive lines in football along with Philadelphia, despite the fact we haven't seen their top five guys play in a single contest together the last two years. That's pretty wild to think about.
Decker, Sewell, Ragnow and Jackson are premier players at their position and allow this offense to operate smoothly in all aspects. Detroit threw for at least 4,000 yards and rushed for at least 2,000 yards for the first time in franchise history last year. A team doesn't accomplish that without strong offensive line play.
Ragnow is still dealing with the same toe injury that cost him 14 games in 2021, but he's learned to play through the pain and still plays at a high level. It's something the team will always have to monitor and manage.
Despite running for over 2,000 yards and scoring 23 rushing touchdowns last season, offensive coordinator Ben Johnson thought there were a number of big plays in the run game left on the table, and the hope is new running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs can get the most out of the lanes and holes the big guys upfront will provide.
The Lions have good depth with players like Glasgow, Nelson, Sorsdal and Eze. Offensive line coach Hank Fraley is one of the best in the business, and this is far and away Detroit's strongest position group.
View photos of Lions fifth-round pick Colby Sorsdal from the 2023 offseason.
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Colby Sorsdal (75) during OTAs at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on May 31, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Colby Sorsdal (75) during rookie minicamp at the Detroit Lions facility in Allen Park, MI on May 12, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Colby Sorsdal (75) during rookie minicamp at the Detroit Lions facility in Allen Park, MI on May 12, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Colby Sorsdal (75) during rookie minicamp at the Detroit Lions facility in Allen Park, MI on May 12, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Colby Sorsdal (75) during rookie minicamp at the Detroit Lions facility in Allen Park, MI on May 12, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Hendon Hooker (12), Detroit Lions offensive lineman Colby Sorsdal (75) during rookie minicamp at the Detroit Lions facility in Allen Park, MI on May 13, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Colby Sorsdal (75) during rookie minicamp at the Detroit Lions facility in Allen Park, MI on May 14, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Colby Sorsdal (75), Detroit Lions quarterback Hendon Hooker (12) during rookie minicamp at the Detroit Lions facility in Allen Park, MI on May 13, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Colby Sorsdal (75) during rookie minicamp at the Detroit Lions facility in Allen Park, MI on May 13, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Colby Sorsdal (75) during rookie minicamp at the Detroit Lions facility in Allen Park, MI on May 13, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Colby Sorsdal (75) during OTAs at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on May 23, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Colby Sorsdal (75) during rookie minicamp at the Detroit Lions facility in Allen Park, MI on May 14, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Colby Sorsdal (75) during OTAs at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 14, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Colby Sorsdal (75) during OTAs at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 12, 2023. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Colby Sorsdal (75) during OTAs at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on May 24, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
By the numbers:
24: Quarterback Jared Goff was sacked just 24 times for 163 yards, ranking second best in the NFL last year behind only Tampa Bay (22 sacks & 160 yards).
42.1: Percent of Detroit's rushes in 2022 that went to the weakside, which was the second highest percentage in the NFL last season behind only Pittsburgh (45.5).
105: The Lions featured an extra offensive lineman on 105 of their 1,092 offensive plays this past season (9.6 percent). Detroit's 105 plays and 9.6 percent of plays with jumbo personnel ranked second in the NFL behind only Cleveland (134 & 12.0).
1995: Sewell was the first Lions tackle to be named to the Pro Bowl since Lomas Brown in 1995.
6,460: Total net yards recorded by the Lions' offense in 2022 which was the second most in franchise history.
Quotable: "Shoot, sky is the limit," Sewell said this offseason of the higher expectations for the Lions in 2023. "Definitely off the bat expectations are way higher than last year. We're coming out with different intent and different purpose than we were here last year. Attention to detail has to go up. Room for error shortens a lot."
