Entering offseason with question marks, Lions GM aims to keep O-line a strength

Allen Park — A year ago, after the Detroit Lions had finished the season with a top-five offense and a bottom-five defense, general manager Brad Holmes acknowledged the dangers of solely focusing his attention on repairing the struggling unit. He understood the importance of investing resources into maintaining a strength.

He fulfilled that sentiment this past offseason by using premium free-agency funds and draft assets to revamp the team's backfield and add a starting-caliber tight end, resulting in another top-five finish in scoring, even improving slightly on the team's 2022 output.

That same risk of neglecting a strength will once again come into play for Holmes this offseason with the team's offensive line. Viewed outside the organization as one of the best units in football, and internally as the engine that makes the offense operate at such as high level, there's a level of instability with the group, as Detroit's top-three guards are set to be free agents.

That includes starters Jonah Jackson and Graham Glasgow, who will both be looking for raises with their next deals. Jackson, who finished the final season of the modest rookie contract he received as a third-round pick in 2020, could conceivably be looking at a pact that will pay him double-digit millions per year. Meanwhile, Glasgow, who will turn 32 in July, is in line for a more palatable increase from the one-year, $2.75 million he received to return to Detroit a year ago.

Whether it's retaining their own or restocking the cupboards through free agency and/or early in the draft, expect Holmes to give his offensive line the level of attention he has since the beginning of his tenure, when he used his first draft pick to select offensive tackle Penei Sewell.

"That’s what our team is," Holmes said on Monday, during his end-of-season press conference. "I mean, our offensive line, us being able to protect the quarterback and run the football like we do, that’s extremely important. ...That’ll be an area that will not be overlooked. As good as it has been in the past, just those points that you’ve raised, it’s definitely going to be a point of emphasis still."

Further complicating the general manager's equation is center Frank Ragnow, who battled through a number of injuries this past season and enters the offseason physically and mentally worn down. Reflecting on his upcoming time off, and the potential of needing surgery to get his body right, there has been some speculation the three-time Pro Bowler might consider early retirement, even if that doesn't necessarily mean this summer.

"I just need to be healthy," Ragnow said last week. "It takes a toll on you. It really takes a toll on you, so I need to find a way to get back to Frank. I don't regret any of this at all, but it weighs on you. I'm just going to take some time and really figure everything out to make sure that I'm feeling good, not only for me the football player, but for me to be the best husband and best father and everything with that as well."

Generally speaking, teams understand its poor timing to discuss a player's future immediately after the season. Holmes intends to give Ragnow all the time he needs, but also to keep the lines of communication open, as the center weighs what's best for him, short- and long-term.

"Ragnow, there's only one of (him) on the planet, in my opinion," Holmes said. "I have so much respect for him and for everything that he goes through and fights through that I’m just respectful of his time and his thoughts. And we’re not going to pressure him to do anything or make any moves. But the communication will be diligent. It’ll be thorough; it’ll be respectful."

jdrogers@detroitnews.com

@Justin_Rogers