By Michael Stets
ALLEN PARK—Many were under the impression the Detroit Lions would be drafting a defensive lineman in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft on Thursday evening. But when the time came to to pick at No. 20, GM Bob Quinn addressed another positional need, selecting center Frank Ragnow out of Arkansas to help bolster the interior of the offensive line.
Ragnow, 21, was a three-year starter for the Razorbacks, and a team captain as a senior. In addition to playing center, the six-foot-five 312-pound Ragnow showcased his versatility by playing 15 games at right guard, and did not allow one sack in his entire college career.
“We got a guy that’s a smart and tough football player that can help us run the ball and help us protect our quarterback, and someone that can play a couple of positions inside,” said Lions head coach Matt Patricia, speaking to Dan Miller on WJR’s NFL Draft Special. “We are excited to see a guy that has great traits, great character, [and is a] hard worker. [He’s] everything that we are about, [a] blue collar guy that we know is going to make us tougher up front.”
With several defensive options still available at the time the Lions were on the clock, even Ragnow was surprised to hear his name get called as the 20th overall pick.
“To be honest, I was pretty surprised,” Ragnow told the local media in a conference call. “They actually mentioned on the phone that they tried to keep it under the radar that they were very interested in me. I’m so, so excited to be a Detroit Lion.”
The last time the Lions spoke to Ragnow prior to Thursday was at the NFL Scouting Combine back in February.
“We had a good meeting there,” said Lions GM Bob Quinn. “He was a guy that was pretty clean throughout the process. He’s coming back from an injury that he missed the second half of the season with an ankle. Other than the injury, he was a real clean prospect that I didn’t really feel like we needed to do a whole of of extra work in terms of a visit here or private workout or any of those things.”
The injury Quinn is referring to was a high ankle sprain Ragnow suffered in the seventh week of the 2017 season, which resulted in surgery to correct it.
“It was a routine surgery that back in the day wasn’t even necessary, but it just really made sure that my ankle was good for the long run,” Ragnow said. “And now, to be honest, it’s a normal ankle. I feel great and it’s been a couple of months since I’ve even had any problems with it.”
The Chanhassen, Minn. native said he wasn’t surprised to be selected in the first round after missing a larger portion of his senior year due to the injury.
“I believe in my abilities and I knew that if I could just prove that my ankle was back to being healthy, I think the film didn’t lie,” said Ragnow, who earned First-Team All-SEC honors in 2017.
Ragnow is known for his toughness, physical demeanor and playing with a mean attitude, which is something that Patricia is definitely a fan of.
“I love the way he plays, [and] his attitude about the game when he steps between the lines,” Patricia said. “That’s what we are looking for, we are looking for that kind of dominating attitude.”
It’s now expected that Ragnow will fill the void at center left by Travis Swanson, one of his mentors, who signed with the New York Jets in the offseason, and 2016 third-round pick Graham Glasgow, who filled in at center several times last season, will remain at left guard. Although Quinn was cryptic when asked what position Ragnow would ultimately play, saying, “He’s an interior offensive linemen, so we’ll figure it out as it goes.”
Ragnow marks the second offensive lineman Quinn has drafted in the first round since drafting tackle Taylor Decker 16th overall in his first year as GM in 2016. He didn’t draft any in 2017, but signed guard T.J. Lang and tackle Rick Wagner to rebuild the right side of the offensive line. It’s still early, obviously, but it now appears that the Lions have their fifth starter for the 2018 season. “It starts in the trenches,” Quinn said.
Quinn added: It starts up front. We want to build through the middle of our team, through the offensive line, defensive line and through the middle. And that’s kind of what we believe in.”
Ragnow going to the Lions was just one of many surprises in the first round on Thursday night. The Browns took quarterback Baker Mayfield first overall, but passed on defensive end Bradley Chubb at No.4 and selected cornerback Denzel Ward out of Ohio State. And the Buffalo Bills ignited the trade frenzy, dealing the No.12 pick and two second-rounders for the No.7 overall pick to acquire quarterback Josh Allen from Wyoming. That was the first of two Bills trades in a round that saw eight altogether.
The 2018 NFL Draft continues on Friday with the second and third rounds. The Lions have picks No.51 and No. 82.