Tim Twentyman

One thing that's hard to really evaluate this time of the year as clubs around the NFL kick off rookie minicamp and OTA practices is the play at the line of scrimmage between the offensive and defensive linemen. It's not until training camp begins, the pads come on and the physicality and hitting really ramps upfront that we start to get a good glimpse of the strengths and weaknesses of both lines.

But size, athleticism and technique are things we can start to see early on and Detroit's second-round pickTate Ratledge, an interior offensive lineman from Georgia, fits the bill as the Lions began their rookie minicamp at the Meijer Performance Center Friday morning.

After selecting Ratledge with the No. 57 overall pick, Lions general manager Brad Holmes told the media the plan was tocross-trainhim at both guard spots and center. The first spot we saw Ratledge line up at during Friday's minicamp practice was at center in the first team period.

"It's different from guard, of course," Ratledge said. "I'm glad I've had prior experience playing center so it's nothing brand new to me. Coming back out there getting the feel for it."

The Lions have an All-Pro center inFrank Ragnowbut will look to have an open competition for his backup in 2025 and beyond. Right now that's veteranGraham Glasgow, but as we all know, competition breeds success in this league.

Ratledge said his focus right now is to just learn the playbook and the scheme at all three interior spots so he can begin to play faster and hopefully compete for an early playing role at one of the two starting guard spots.

"You have to say a lot more," Ratledge said of playing center. "You have to know the safety rotations and stuff like that. At guard, most of the time you're listening for the center to tell you where to go. At center, you're telling everyone else where to go."

Ratledge is coming into a good situation in Detroit where there's potentially two open spots at his position pancaked between three All-Pro and Pro Bowl players in Ragnow, right tacklePenei Sewelland left tackleTaylor Decker.

The Lions love Ratledge's toughness and his ability to move and block in space, an aspect of his game that could put him right there with veterans Glasgow and Christian Mahogany in the competition at starting guard.

"It's a dream to be out here," Ratledge said after practice Friday. "I couldn't have asked for a better situation to step into with this team and this program."

Ratledge is going to continue to grind on the playbook, pick up scheme and continue to show that he can be a versatile chess piece along the interior of Detroit's offensive line.

"Right now, I think my goals are just to learn this playbook as best as possible and put myself in the best position to go into training camp and compete," he said.

He's watched a good bit of Detroit's offensive line play over the years, and that's ramped up since being drafted to the team. He loves the mentality the group plays with and the way they finish blocks. He thinks it's a great fit for his game. Watching the film, he's excited to learn the ropes from a group he says mirrors his play style in the way they love to finish blocks and play through the whistle.