The Detroit Lions had a disappointing 2025 season, where they finished last in the NFC North standings and missed the playoffs.

One of the areas they would need to improve is their offensive line. The retirement of center Frank Ragnow was a difficult obstacle to overcome, and the replacement Graham Glasgow did not work out as well.

Speaking about the difficult season the Lions had in 2025, Ballentine writes, "The Lions' fall from Super Bowl contender to missing the playoffs has a direct tie to the drop in their offensive line play. Frank Ragnow's retirement probably hurt the team more than it was prepared for. Graham Glasgow moved to the pivot with mixed results." 

The Detroit Lions have now let go of Glasgow, freeing up $5.6 million in cap space. This creates a gap in the center, which the Lions now have to plug.

One option they could go for is Buffalo Bills’ Connor McGovern. Alex Ballentine from the Bleacher Report has provided more insights on why McGovern is a good fit for the Lions.

Ballentine further added, "The Lions could use free agency to reset that. While Tyler Linderbaum is the biggest name, Bills center Connor McGovern is a free agent who finished ninth in the league in PFF grade. Signing him away from Buffalo would elevate the floor of the offensive line."

Connor McGovern was signed to the Buffalo Bills in 2023, following a three-season stint with the Dallas Cowboys. With the Bills in 2025, he has received a 70.9 offensive grade as per Pro Football Focus and started all 49 games.

As per Spotrac, he is said to gain $16.3 million in a contract for three years. But could the Lions explore other options?

An alternate option to fill the gap in the center

The Detroit Lions recently traded running back David Montgomery in a surprise blockbuster trade, receiving Houston Texans center Juice Scruggs in return.

While Scruggs may not be a long-term replacement for Glasgow, he remains a viable option to add depth to the squad. While Scruggs did not have a particularly good 2025 season with the Texans, some analysts are optimistic about his position on the team.

NFL analyst Tim Pellisero believes that Juice Scruggs could fit in well with the offensive line that Drew Petzing is building.

Pellisero wrote on X, “Dan Campbell wants the Lions to get back to playing their brand of football, and that starts with reestablishing a dominant O-line. From the NFL pre-draft scouting report on Juice Scruggs: “He plays like a block of granite…” That fits.”

It will still be important for the Lions to get a strong center who can start the games, and McGovern could be the perfect match.

Detroit fans, what do you think about the moves the franchise has made ahead of the all-important draft? Let us know in the comments!

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Written by

Shyam Hari

Edited by

Kalp Thaker