By the end of last season, Frank Ragnow’s listing on the injury report might have required a breathe to get through (toe/ankle/knee/back). So after the NFC Championship Game loss to the 49ers, it wasn’t surprising to hear the Lions’ three-time Pro Bowl center plainly take accounting of all the ailments he dealt with. Light speculation about retirement followed, which he quickly squashed at NFL Honors.
But it’s fair to say some years have been taken off Ragnow’s career. Entering his seventh season and nearing 28 years old (May 17), he’s probably not going to play until he’s 35. It may become a year-to-year proposition to keep playing, though he is under contract for three more years.
In a big picture sense, the Lions have to be considering how they’ll eventually replace Ragnow. Keeping one of the league’s best offensive lines strong as some guys age out will be a priority, and a potential successor at guard came via the draft (Christian Mahogany).
Will a UDFA become Frank Ragnow’s successor?
The Lions did not select a center or someone who could play center. They did, however, sign three undrafted free agent centers: Duke Clemens, Bryan Hudson, and Kingsley Eguakun. Clemens and Eguakun received significant guaranteed money.
Clemens started 34 straight games at center to finish his career at UCLA, with a top-13 pass blocking grade from Pro Football Focus last year (81.8). He can also play guard, which may enhance his chances to make the roster.
Hudson characterizes “country strong” as having grown up on a farm in Kentucky and developed his strength by hurling hay bales. He possesses good length (6-foot-4), in addition to the grit Dan Campbell values.
Eguakun received the aforementioned $245,000 in guaranteed money for signing with the Lions as a UDFA. He would have been drafted if it hadn’t been for an ankle injury that kept him out for the majority of last season at Florida. He started for the Gators for three years, and The Athletic featured him as an undrafted rookie to watch on each team.
“Injuries nagged 27-year-old All-Pro center Frank Ragnow again last season. Detroit didn’t address center in the draft, but it did add three UDFA centers, including Eguakun. A three-year starter at Florida who missed most of last season with an ankle injury, Eguakun was a powerful and explosive leader inside for the Gators. He’s a very capable run blocker and excellent communicator.”Without drafting a center, the Lions have added some intriguing prospects to potentially replace Ragnow. Time will tell whether one of them makes the regular roster or the practice squad, but Eguakun has a little advantage heading into rookie minicamp.
