The biggest strength of the Detroit Lions all season long was the play of their offensive line.
Detroit has one of the best tackle tandems in the league in veteran left tackle Taylor Decker and first-time All-Pro right tackle Penei Sewell. Center Frank Ragnow is a two-time All-Pro, including this past season. He and Sewell were graded the top center and tackle in football by Pro Football Focus this year. Jonah Jackson and Graham Glasgow are both very good guards.
Lions general manager Brad Holmes won't overlook how important that unit is to the team's success this offseason when it's time to start reshaping the roster in free agency and the draft.
"That's what our team is. I mean, our offensive line, us being able to protect the quarterback and run the football like we do, that's extremely important," Holmes said after the season.
Holmes has some decisions to make this offseason regarding the o-line. Jackson and Glasgow are both headed to unrestricted free agency.
Ragnow talked after the season about the toll it took on him physically as he battled toe, ankle, knee and back injuries. He needs some time this offseason to figure out his injury situation and how it impacts his future.
"It takes a toll on you," Ragnow said. "It really takes a toll on you, so I need to find a way to get back to Frank and I don't regret any of this at all, but it weighs on you and I'm just going to take some time and really figure everything out to make sure that I'm feeling good, not only for me the football player but for me to be the best husband and best father and everything with that as well."
Ragnow, 28, has three years remaining on his four-year, $54 million contract.
"And look, Ragnow, it's only one of them on the planet, in my opinion," Holmes said of his veteran center. "But I have so much respect for him and for everything that he goes through and fights through that I'm just respectful of his time and his thoughts. And we're not going to pressure him to do anything or make any moves. But the communication will be diligent. It'll be thorough, it'll be respectful."
View photos of the Detroit Lions offensive line from the 2023 NFL season.
Detroit Lions guard Kayode Awosika (74) during an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions tackle Taylor Decker (68) during a NFL game against the Las Vegas Raiders on October 30, 2023 in Detroit. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tackle Taylor Decker (68) during a NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on October 15, 2023 in Tampa, FL. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tackle Taylor Decker (68) during an NFC Wild Card round football game against the Los Angeles Rams on January 14, 2024 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Graham Glasgow (60) during a NFL game against the Las Vegas Raiders on October 30, 2023 in Detroit. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Graham Glasgow (60) Detroit Lions offensive lineman Colby Sorsdal (75) Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow (77) during a NFL game against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Graham Glasgow (60) during an NFC Wild Card round football game against the Los Angeles Rams on January 14, 2024 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions guard Jonah Jackson (73) during a NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on January 7, 2024 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16), Detroit Lions guard Jonah Jackson (73), and Detroit Lions tackle Taylor Decker (68) during a NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on December 24, 2023 in Minneapolis. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow (77), Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16), Detroit Lions guard Jonah Jackson (73), and Detroit Lions tackle Taylor Decker (68) during a NFL football game against the Denver Broncos on December 16, 2023 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions tackle Matt Nelson (67) during a NFL game against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Graham Glasgow (60), Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow (77), and Detroit Lions guard Jonah Jackson (73) during a NFL football game against the Denver Broncos on December 16, 2023 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow (77), Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during a NFL football game against the Denver Broncos on December 16, 2023 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow (77) during a NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on December 30, 2023 in Arlington. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond (11), Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell (58), and Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) during a NFL game against the Las Vegas Raiders on October 30, 2023 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell (58) during an NFC Divisional round football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on January 21, 2024 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14), Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell (58), Detroit Lions offensive lineman Graham Glasgow (60), and Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during a NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on December 24, 2023 in Minneapolis. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions tackle Dan Skipper (70) during a NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on January 7, 2024 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Colby Sorsdal (75) and Detroit Lions offensive lineman Graham Glasgow (60) during a NFL game against the Las Vegas Raiders on October 30, 2023 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions guard Halapoulivaati Vaitai (72), Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16), and Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow (77) during a NFL game against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Decisions are looming, but Holmes was clear that keeping Detroit's offensive line one of the best in football is a big priority for him.
"That'll be an area that will not be overlooked," he said. "As good as it has been in the past, just those points that you've raised, it's definitely going to be a point of emphasis still."
