Next up in the annual series of prospects to know for the Lions for each round of the upcoming draft: the guards and centers. Interior offensive line encompasses both spots, though each of the three spots requires somewhat divergent skills to thrive in the NFL.

Lions draft: An EDGE for every round

An off-ball LB for every round

No, the Lions aren’t going to draft an IOL prospect in each round. The purpose here is to demonstrate which types of talents look to be available for Lions GM Brad Holmes in each of the draft’s seven rounds. They are done with an eye toward scheme and culture fit for Detroit, and this is more true with the IOL group than most other positions. This is not a recommendation or endorsement of any of the players, with what appears to be realistic draft projection ranges ahead of the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine. 

The Lions currently don’t have a third-round pick, but there is still a third-round candidate listed. As Holmes has repeatedly shown, he’s not afraid to go get his man in draft-day trades.  

State of the Position

The changing of the guard, err, center, is one of the biggest Lions stories of the early offseason. Starting center Graham Glasgow has been released.

The Lions have added three potential successors for Glasgow in the pivot. Detroit signed Seth McLaughlin, who missed his rookie season with a torn Achilles after being an undrafted free agent from Ohio State (and Alabama). Had he been healthy, McLaughlin would have been my top-graded center in the 2025 NFL Draft. McLaughlin will compete against two very recent additions.

Detroit added Juice Scruggs from the Texans in the David Montgomery trade. Scruggs has bounced between guard and center with varying levels of sporadic success. He was a second-round pick by Houston back in 2023 and still has some youthful potential. At worst, the experienced Scruggs can fill the Kayode Awosika/Michael Niese role of interior depth, with somewhat proven upside to provide more.

The Lions’ first addition in free agency was Cade Mays from the Panthers. His 3-year, $25M contract dictates that the 26-year-old Mays is penciled in as the starting center, where he’s played his best NFL football. Mays is a better scheme fit with the Lions than he was with the Panthers, where he played for three different OCs and also three different OL coaches in his four seasons.

Tate Ratledge earned All-Rookie honors for his work at right guard. He’s a keeper with a Pro Bowl ceiling. The idea of moving him to center, where I do think he’d thrive, appears tabled indefinitely if not eliminated with Mays’ signing.

Christian Mahogany returns as the starting left guard, though the third-year “dirtbag” has struggled to make a big impact while battling illness and injuries. He could very well face a challenge for his starting job, be it from Scruggs or Miles Frazier, a 2025 fifth-round pick who missed most of his rookie season with injury. Frazier’s position is uncertain; he played guard at LSU but was a freshman All-American left tackle at Florida International, and I liked his prospects as a tackle more than inside. He belongs in the conversation at left guard

 

First round: Vega Ioane, Penn State

There’s a fair chance Ioane will be gone before the Lions pick at No. 17. He’s a guard-only prospect but a very high-end, power-oriented one. He’s a snowplow in the run game, especially when the 320-pound Ioane can initiate contact with his punch before having to move. Ioane bears some stylistic resemblance and power-laden run game work with one-time Lions Pro Bowler Larry Warford in his (too brief) prime. He doesn’t have the lateral range or quickness with his hands of the elite NFL guards, but Ioane looks like a high-floor, ready-made starter for a gap/duo-heavy scheme like the Lions. Outside zone teams (think Shanahan-style teams) shouldn’t value Ioane nearly as much, as his range is limited and takes away from his in-your-face power.

 

Second round: Chase Bisontis, Texas A&M

A personal favorite, Bisontis likely cemented himself in the top 75 picks with an impressive Combine–notably the on-field position drills. He’s very quick and agile for a 315-pounder, and he’s got the best natural pass-protection technique of any guard in this draft. Bisontis moved to left guard in 2024 after primarily playing right tackle in 2023, and his pass-blocking skills reflect his tenure at tackle.

Short arms and happy feet make Bisontis a much better guard than tackle. He’s almost the polar opposite of Ioane; Bisontis doesn’t displace anyone in the run game, but rather walls off holes with quick feet and excellent hip/shoulder coordination. He can adeptly slide and pick up second-level rushers with confidence. Though he’s not a power pig, there is some grit to Bisontis’ game. His consistent ability to engage and lock up defenders in space and off combo blocks would fit nicely in Detroit.

Third round: Keylan Rutledge, Georgia Tech

Rutledge isn’t to be confused with the similarly named Tate Ratledge, but there are a lot of other similarities between the Georgia Tech right guard and the Lions’ incumbent. His power in tight quarters is Rutledge’s calling card. The 6-foot-4, 315-pounder has a vice grip and excellent shoulder torque in the run game.

Also similar to Ratledge, Rutledge will rise up too tall while engaged in pass pro, even though he’s a couple inches shorter. That and a propensity to lunge out a little over his skis when trying to engage a pass rusher coming from beyond his iniital reach are the biggest drawbacks for Rutledge, a two-time All-ACC right guard. He’s only ever played RG, even going back to the beginning of his college career at Middle Tennessee. That lack of proven positional versatility might be the biggest reason the Lions wouldn’t select a player who is otherwise a perfect grit fit for the Detroit line.

 

Fourth round: Jeremiah Wright, Auburn

Speaking of grit fits and powerful run blockers, I give you Jeremiah Wright. A 6-foot-5, 331-pound behemoth, Wright plays with the desired hostility and violence, as if the person he’s blocking knocked his grandma out of her wheelchair. Playing primarily at RG but with over 300 snaps at LG, Wright is a decently athletic big man who can slide laterally to pick up rushers outside his initial frame.

The run blocking is well ahead of Wright’s pass protection. Most of his issues stem from an overzealousness with Wright’s punch and his initial step. It makes him awkward and often inaccurate, and he doesn’t have the quickness at his size to recover right away. The game against a quickness-based Oklahoma DL really exposed the worst in Wright, and it’s why he’s down here in Day 3 even though his run blocking power and schematic fit for Detroit (and other gap/power teams) might be the best-in-class. If the hands and patience develop, Wright’s going to be in Pro Bowls. If not, he’ll sit on the bench for 3 teams in 5 years. High risk/reward, even for a fourth-rounder…

Fifth round: Sam Hecht, Kansas State

A center–arguably the best actual center in this class who will play as a rookie (Connor Lew’s torn ACL factors in)–Hecht is an impressive all-around prospect. Quick hands and exceptional reactionary quickness and eyes to ID targets stand out. His anchor strength will never be great, but Hecht understands how to use the power he’s got effectively enough.

Hecht helped himself with a good Senior Bowl week, where he flashed the ability to answer questions about his power and range in the run game. His best football might very well be ahead for Hecht, a two-year starter and likely center-only at the next level. His ability to sustain blocks in the run game and engage second-level defenders in space could work well in Detroit.

Sixth round: Jager Burton, Kentucky

Burton burst onto the Lions consciousness during his outstanding week at the Shrine Bowl, where new Lions assistant coach Dan Skipper worked with his unit. He’s got over 45 career starts and at least five of them at all three IOL spots.

Burton’s experience and savvy shows in his game, notably in his senior season as Kentucky’s center–which is clearly his best position in pass protection. Burton allowed 11 sacks in his five years, but none came in his nearly 1,000 snaps playing in the pivot. The burst off the snap and his consistent ability to stay square while anchoring are all over Burton’s game tape.

While not necessarily a power-oriented player, Burton does get after defenders in the run game. He’s not blessed with people-moving power. There are times when the 314-pounder oversteps into contact and loses his leverage as well; Lions fans of a certain age might recall Dominic Raiola struggling with that very issue. Burton as a swing reserve IOL with enough athletic upside to push for a starting role in 2027 and beyond makes him a strong value in this range of the draft.

Seventh round: Matt Gulbin, Michigan State

From Gulbin’s profile as the Daily DLP Prospect of the Day:

Gulbin is a 6-foot-4, 305-pound interior offensive lineman who played four years at Wake Forest before transferring to Michigan State in 2025. He did not work out at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine due to an injury that also sidelined Gulbin from Michigan State’s final game. He does plan on working out in full at MSU’s pro day.

Pros
–Positional versatility; played over 600 snaps at all 3 IOL positions
–Very strong through the shoulders and core
–Plays through the whistle on every snap
–Outstanding leg drive and foot frequency in run blocking
–Above-average grip strength in tight quarters
–Resets his feet and stays square pretty consistently
–Until injury in his final game, he was remarkably durable in college
–Named team captain at MSU despite being a newcomer

Cons
–Very short arms; measured 31.75 inches on a 6-4 frame (should be at least 33)
–Lack of reach shows against quicker DL
–Lateral movement and range are average
–Too much catch-blocking when not heads-up vs DL
–More hit-and-run than engage and sustain in run blocking in space
–Picking up 2nd-level pass rush is a work in progress