Lions Projected to Find New Frank Ragnow Replacement
The Detroit Lions are trying to replace two coordinators this season. But another departure the team is currently dealing with is center. Veteran Frank Ragnow retired following the 2024 campaign, which gave Detroit a significant hole in the middle of the team’s offensive line. On Friday, SI on College Football’s Randy Gurzi predicted the Lions to fill that void during the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
In a new mock draft, Gurzi projected the Lions to select Auburn center Connor Lew at No. 28 overall.
“Frank Ragnow’s retirement was shocking, and it gives the Lions one major need,”
Lew was the only center off the board in the first round of Gurzi’s mock draft. Although he was a late first-rounder in the mock, Lew was also just the fourth offensive linemen to be selected.
Could Lions Select Center Early in 2026 NFL Draft?
There’s a long way to go before the 2026 NFL Draft. As a result, there are three big unknowns — Detroit’s biggest need entering 2026, which prospects will best fit those needs, and where the Lions will be selecting in the first round.
With those unknowns, it’s pretty difficult to project anything about the 2026 NFL Draft.
After Ragnow’s retirement, veteran interior offensive lineman Graham Glasgow moved to center for the Lions. Last year, Glasgow started at left guard in Detroit.
The veteran has previously started at center in his career. This season, though, his results have been mixed through the first two weeks.
Ragnow was regularly one of the top-rated centers in the PFF player grades over the last few years. He also made three consecutive Pro Bowls from 2022-24 and second-team All-Pro three times with the Lions, including in 2023 and 2024.
But Ragnow retired at 29 years old this offseason in large part because of significant nagging injuries.
Lew has been a star at Auburn since his freshman season. He could offer the Lions an immediate all-around upgrade in the middle of the offensive line.
“Now entering his third season as the Tigers’ starting center, Lew has already been pegged by head coach Hugh Freeze as ‘an NFL center’ and is generating legitimate buzz as a potential first-team All-SEC performer,”
Could the Lions Move Tate Ratledge to Center?
Gurzi correctly identified center as a need for the Lions. But it’s possible the team already has its franchise center of the future.
In the 2025 NFL Draft, the Lions selected interior offensive linemen Tate Ratledge and Miles Frazier. Detroit picked Ratledge, who is starting at right guard this season, at No. 57 overall in the second round.
Ratledge has the potential to play center in his NFL career.
“I don’t know what the future’s going to bring. But yeah, I just think, we felt good about trying him here,”
“But when you start looking at the whole combination of him and [Glasgow] and everything, I think that that was the best thing for not only the players being put in the best positions, but also for the team.”
If Lew offers the Lions generational center potential, then perhaps the team selects the Auburn lineman to start him next to Ratledge. But if Ratledge could start at center, it wouldn’t be surprising for the Lions to target a different need in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Derrick Harmon Makes Progress for Steelers, but 3 Key Starters Ruled Out for Patriots Game
The Pittsburgh Steelers will be missing three starters on defense in Week 3 versus the New England Patriots. But it’s still possible first-round defensive lineman Derrick Harmon makes his NFL regular season debut Sunday.
On the team’s final injury report Friday, the Steelers listed Harmon as questionable. The rookie also fully practiced Friday after being limited Wednesday and Thursday.
Harmon has been sidelined since suffering a knee sprain during Week 3 of the preseason on August 21.
The Steelers also received a positive injury update on linebacker Patrick Queen. The veteran has been dealing with an oblique ailment this week, but he fully practiced Wednesday-Friday and doesn’t have an injury designation for Sunday.
Wide receiver DK Metcalf, cornerback Darius Slay and edge rusher T.J. Watt received veteran rest days throughout the week. All three players practiced Friday and don’t have injury designations either.
However, that was the end of the good injury news for the Steelers. Also Friday, the team ruled out cornerback Joey Porter Jr., safety DeShon Elliott and edge rusher Alex Highsmith.
Porter and Elliott also missed Week 2, which was a 31-17 Pittsburgh loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
Rookie Derrick Harmon Could Make Steelers Debut in Week 3
Pundits feared the worst with Harmon because he left on a cart during the third week of the preseason. But he avoided a serious injury and actually didn’t even land on injured reserve.
An IR stint would have automatically ruled out Harmon for four games. But the team saw the rookie returning before October.
Assuming that mindset hasn’t changed, Harmon is set to make his regular season debut either Sunday or during Week 4.
The Steelers drafted Harmon at No. 21 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. At Oregon last season, he posted five sacks, 11 tackles for loss, four pass defenses and two forced fumbles.
Pittsburgh’s defense needs Harmon back to help against the run. The Steelers allowed an average of about 150 rushing yards in the first two games this season. Pittsburgh has also yielded a league-high four rushing touchdowns in two weeks.
Since he’s a rookie, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Steelers eased Harmon back into the lineup. But once he’s back up to speed, the 22-year-old is expected to start along the defensive line with All-Pro Cameron Heyward and former second-round pick Keeanu Benton.
Steelers to be Without Highsmith, Porter & Elliott
If Harmon is able to return, it will be a huge boost for the Steelers defense. But the unit will still be without one of its starting edge rushers and two starters in the secondary.
Highsmith has averaged about eight sacks per season over the past four years. Third-year edge rusher Nick Herbig will likely replace him in the starting lineup.
With two tackles for loss, a pass defense and interception, Herbig was one of Pittsburgh’s better defenders during Week 2.
Veterans Brandin Echols and Chuck Clark will probably continue to replace Porter and Elliott. At cornerback, though, Slay and Jalen Ramsey, who have played every defensive snaps for the Steelers this season, will start. Echols will likely receive playing time in nickel situations.
Clark is set to line up next to fellow safety Juan Thornhill in Elliott’s absence. Clark played 87.7% of the team’s defensive snaps during Week 2.
