The Detroit Lions finalize their 2025 draft class by signing Tate Ratledge, but lose DE Levi Onwuzurike to injury before training camp even begins.
StatPro NFL Beat Reporter
It was a classic 'good news, bad news' day in Allen Park. Just as fans breathed a collective sigh of relief with the long-awaited signing of second-round pick Tate Ratledge, the team announced significant injury setbacks on the defensive side of the ball. Defensive end Levi Onwuzurike is set to miss at least the first four games, dealing a blow to the defensive line's depth before camp even truly begins.
Detroit's tight ends saw their target rate drop from 22.5% in 2023 to just 18.6% in 2025, signaling a major shift in offensive philosophy.
The stalemate is finally over. Second-round guard Tate Ratledge, the 57th overall pick, has officially signed his rookie contract, making him the final piece of the 2025 draft class to ink his deal. The delay was part of a league-wide trend sparked by fully guaranteed second-round contracts handed out by the Texans and Browns, which reset the market. With the negotiations behind him, Ratledge can now focus on what fans are eager to see: competing for a starting job on Detroit's formidable offensive line. His arrival adds another layer of talent and competition to a unit that is central to the team's identity.
The positive news of the Ratledge signing was quickly tempered by injury announcements. The Lions placed DE Levi Onwuzurike on the reserve/Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, sidelining him for a minimum of four regular-season games. The team didn't specify the injury, but his absence creates a significant hole in the defensive line rotation. In a smaller but still notable move, CB Stantley Thomas-Oliver III was placed on the non-football injury list and will miss the season opener against the Packers. While Thomas-Oliver was a depth piece, losing two defensive players on the same day puts a strain on the roster before the pads even come on.
An interesting trend to watch in training camp will be the role of the tight end in Ben Johnson's offense. Data shows a clear strategic shift, with the TE target rate dropping from 22.5% in 2023 to 18.6% this past season. However, this doesn't mean they're disappearing. The Lions used two-tight end sets on a whopping 54.2% of their offensive snaps, one of the highest rates in the league. This suggests a heavier emphasis on their blocking prowess in the run game and pass protection, with Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright, and Shane Zylstra being utilized as versatile, multi-tool weapons rather than just primary receivers.
With the entire 2025 draft class now under contract, the Lions can turn their full attention to the battles of training camp. The key storylines are clear: How will the offensive line rotation solidify with Ratledge in the fold, and can the defense weather these early injuries to key depth players? All eyes are on the September 7th opener against Green Bay, which will be the first true test of this team's resilience.
