NFL Draft 2018: Detroit Lions 7-round mock draft
By Joe Romano
Round 3 – Pick 82
Frank Ragnow, C, Arkansas
After spending draft picks and free agent money on the offensive line, the Detroit Lions have a solid unit up front. The tackle duo of Ricky Wagner and Taylor Decker are locked in with solid depth behind them. At guard the team has T.J. Lang and Graham Glasgow, a formidable and solid middle. However, center Travis Swanson is considered a weak link. He is also a pending free agent that Detroit may not bring back. Even if they plan on signing him, the team needs an upgrade.
In a strong interior offensive line class, Arkansas center Frank Ragnow seems like the forgotten man. Iowa’s James Daniels and Ohio State’s Billy Price are being talked about at late round one players, and I’m not sure how much better they are than Ragnow. If Detroit was able to snag him towards the end of round three they would get a plug and play starter completing their five man unit up front.
Ragnow is forgotten mostly because he missed a big chunk of 2017 with an injury. The combine will be big for him to make sure his medicals check out clean. On a veteran offensive line like Detroit Ragnow’s game would fit in perfectly. He may not be the most athletic or powerful but he may be the smartest center in the draft class. Ragnow has an excellent ability to get to the second level and stick to quicker defenders.
Bringing Ragnow on board with the rest of that line may get Detroit to that elusive 100-yard rushing mark. The Lions need to find a running game to compliment Stafford. It started with new back Ronald Jones and continues with a new starter at the center position.