The Lions face an unusual scenario: second-round pick Tate Ratledge hasn’t signed as training camp nears, but he’s already been dialed into the starting unit. On the practice fields at Allen Park, he’s been snapping center and sliding to guard during high-intensity drills, clotheslined by pad hits, calling out protections, and swapping positions mid-series. Holmes clearly meant to signal that Ratledge is core to the offensive line’s structure, regardless of ink on a dotted line. Right? But the curious case of Ratledge is actually a league-wide phenomenon. 

After the Texans gave Jayden Higgins (34th pick) the first-ever fully guaranteed second-round deal, the Browns quickly matched it for 33rd pick Carson Schwesinger. Since then, more than 30 other second-rounders remain unsigned, with Tre Harris of the Chargers becoming the first to miss camp. Ratledge is merely riding the same wave of leverage, representing not a Detroit blip but a football-wide shift.

What raises the stakes in Detroit is the fragile equilibrium inside their line. Frank Ragnow’s early June retirement — a four-time Pro Bowler and cornerstone — left a vacuum at center. Glasgow, Mahogany, Colon: they’re all in rotation, but none carry Ragnow’s résumé. That places the spotlight firmly on Ratledge—6′6″, 315 lb, two-time national champ, first-team All-American with a 9.96 RAS — to step in from Day 1. Each unsigned day chips at his readiness and Detroit’s Super Bowl window, making the holdout more than a numbers game. Enter the conversation between Will Ford Sr. and Steve Perkins, dissecting this very scenario with the casual ease of two fans debating play calls over beers.

Ford Sr. cuts straight to the chase: “Does that concern you at all?” Perkins’s reply isn’t just confident; it’s borderline zen: “On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the highest, my concern is negative 1,000.” The potential starting guard missing? “No concern at all… I think he’ll be there one way or another.” The vibe? Utterly unruffled. “I’m not—I’m not worried about it.” However, a question arises. Why?

Subsequently, that’s because, as Perkins puts it, the Lions are “a fair organization,” operating within a system where “the parameters of what he’s going to get paid are pretty much already locked in by the NFL.” Translation? This isn’t a high-stakes standoff. “So, I’m—I’m just—I’m not pressed about it.” So, what’s the holdup for the 57th overall pick?

What’s actually at stake for Detroit is hours of live-snap calibration that can’t be simulated on paper. If the Lions are serious about testing Ratledge at center, he needs reps calling out protections, syncing his cadence with Jared Goff, and managing pre-snap disguises—all responsibilities Frank Ragnow used to execute seamlessly. That chemistry can’t be built in meetings or walkthroughs. It’s earned when the pocket breaks down in 11-on-11s and the center has half a second to slide the protection. Detroit’s scheme under Ben Johnson depends on quick-developing routes and clean interior walls—last season, the offense allowed just 31 sacks, the fifth-fewest in the league

Perkins leans into the mundane possibilities with a chuckle: “There’s probably some type of minor thing going on behind the scenes… Maybe he’s not allowed to wrestle sharks in the offseason anymore.” Or perhaps it involves Ratledge’s known passion: “He does a lot of hunting and stuff… Maybe there’s something going on with that.” The key takeaway? “I got a sneaky suspicion it gets figured out.” So, what exactly does Ratledge mean for Holmes?

Ratledge: More than just a contract number for Holmes

This isn’t Perkins whistling past the graveyard. The Lions’ leverage and depth fuel that faith. Indeed, he casually name-checks the contingency plan like a seasoned O-line coach: “Maybe you put Miles Frasier in there. You know, maybe Graham Glasgow stays. Maybe King Kingsley and Guin. Maybe uh Nai Montai.”  Translation: the Lions aren’t hostage to one rookie. “I just feel like the Detroit Lions aren’t going to get strong-armed outside of the terminology that they want by a rookie. I just don’t see it happening.” While the ink dries (and it will dry), remember who the Lions drafted. GM Holmes himself called him a critical “anchor” ability against NFL pass rushes. Holmes saw a “Detroit Lion”—smart, gritty, versatile. A potential cornerstone, not a cog.

Perkins circles back, his conviction unwavering: “I’m not worried at all. I just feel like it gets figured out.” Moreover, this mirrors the Holmes Doctrine. Panic is for franchises without a plan or depth, and the Lions have both. Missing a few early camp reps could delay Ratledge’s readiness; however, Holmes built this roster knowing when storms would come, veterans like the reliable Graham Glasgow are ready to step in.