Ever since Dan Campbell took over the Motor City sidelines in 2021, one thing he never had to stress about was who was snapping the ball. Frank Ragnow had it covered. For seven seasons, the Lions’ big man in the middle kept things clean and composed for Jared Goff—handling protections, commanding the huddle, and keeping the chaos at bay. But when Ragnow quietly walked away from football this June, Detroit didn’t just lose a center—they lost the voice of their offensive line. And that silence? Campbell knew he had to fill it fast.
Thankfully, it didn’t take long. By late July, Graham Glasgow made his move. The veteran lineman, now entering Year 9 in the league, stepped up as the clear frontrunner to take over the center spot. Sure, last season wasn’t his finest—36 pressures, four sacks, and a shaky 57.9 pass-block grade while at left guard had fans nervous. However, Campbell didn’t just stop with Glasgow. He is also impressed by Kingsley Eguakun.
“Kingsley, who was an undrafted free agent out of Florida, is the backup center in this latest depth chart that was released. This is a big deal because Brad or excuse me, Dan Campbell comes out and says on July 21st. He says man, ‘love this guy’ Sunday, just watching him getting better and better,” Sports Talk Detroit host Mike Valenti explained. He also added, “He’s tough, he’s physically smart, he’s a good athlete. The more I see him, the more I like him, he’s improved. I like him a lot. Kingsley’s a guy that’s standing out.”
Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions DETROIT,MICHIGAN-JANUARY 5: Head coach Dan Campbell of the Detroit Lions answers questions during a press conference, PK, Pressekonferenz at the conclusion of a game between the Detroit Lions and the Minnesota Vikings in Detroit, Michigan USA, on Sunday, January 5, 2025. Detroit Michigan United States PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxFRA Copyright: xAmyxLemusx originalFilename:lemus-minnesot250106_npahZ.jpg
Interestingly, Kingsley played five seasons at the University of Florida (2019-2023), appearing in 44 games and starting 30. He allowed only 1 sack in 1,029 pass-blocking snaps from 2021 to 2023 as per Pro Football Focus. And now add Glasgow. In 2023, he notched a 75.1 overall PFF grade, including an 82.1 run-block mark—top five among guards. Only two sacks in 614 snaps? That’s elite.
Ultimately, it looks like Campbell’s gamble is paying off. With Glasgow locking down the center and young talents like Kingsley pushing for reps, the O-line is finding its footing. The Lions wrapped up 2024 at 15-2 with the NFC’s No. 1 seed, and early signs from camp say they’re keeping that fire alive. Ragnow may be gone, but Detroit is still ready to fight.
Glasgow has quietly won Dan Campbell’s center competition
It looked like Dan Campbell was open to giving rookie Tate Ratledge a legitimate shot at replacing Frank Ragnow. Ratledge was getting center reps early in camp, but the Silver Rush faithful didn’t have to wait long to see where this was heading. The Lions leaned on experience, and Campbell circled back to a familiar face—Graham Glasgow. It just made sense. Plugging in a rookie at center on one of the league’s best offensive lines was a big ask. Glasgow, despite saying right guard was “home,” stepped up without hesitation, saying he’ll do whatever the team needs.
Moreover, Glasgow’s attitude has matched his performance. As he told The Athletic’s Colton Pouncy, “I do like playing center. Center’s fun. I like the mental load that comes with it. I think it’s a challenge, but that’s something that I’m pretty good at, so I like to do it. If it came to me having to play center and make the calls or me be a guard and think about the calls anyway — just to make sure the calls are right — I’d probably rather just play center.” That’s the mindset Dan Campbell clearly values.
In fact, both Campbell and OC John Morton have now confirmed what was already visible at training camp. Morton admitted, “Glasgow is at the center now, I think that’s more natural for him… I do like the way it’s going right now.” And Campbell? He didn’t hold back either, saying Glasgow’s reps look “pretty dang good.” Still, it’s not like Ratledge is fading away. He’s been strong at right guard, holding his own and finding his role early. For Campbell and the One Pride, that’s a win-win.
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