“These previous couple of months have been very attempting as I’ve come to the belief that my soccer journey is ending and I’m formally retiring from the NFL,” Ragnow wrote on Instagram Monday. “I’ve tried to persuade myself that I’m feeling good however I’m not and it’s time to prioritize my well being and my household’s future. I’ve given this group all the things I’ve and I assumed I had extra to present, however the actuality is I merely don’t.
“I’ve to hearken to my physique and this has been one of many hardest selections of my life. The Lions group has been completely unbelievable all through this course of and I can’t emphasize sufficient how grateful I’m for this group and all of the followers.”
Ragnow was restricted to 4 video games in 2021, however he managed to swimsuit up for both 15 or 16 video games throughout every of the previous three seasons. The previous first-rounder earned a Professional Bowl nod yearly in that stretch, bringing his profession complete to 4. Ragnow earned second-team All-Professional honors in 2020, and he matched that feat over each of the previous two campaigns. He operated as a Lions starter instantly upon arrival, however for the primary time in seven years, the group can be with out his providers, a spell which included six years at middle.
Ragnow drew middling PFF evaluations throughout his rookie season as a guard. Since then, nevertheless, he has been among the many league’s greatest on the middle spot. The Arkansas product completed no worse than sixth for qualifying facilities by way of total grade (besides his temporary 2021 season, when he earned a mark of 86.7 in his restricted motion). Expectations would have remained excessive shifting ahead, and two years remained on Ragnow’s contract. Now, although, his consideration will flip to his post-playing days.
Detroit has veteran Graham Glasgow in place as an choice to deal with first-team middle duties. The 32-year-old has spent a lot of his profession at each guard spots, with that being the case for almost all of his two Lions stints. In 2018, although, Glasgow did function because the group’s beginning middle earlier than Ragnow took over that position. An alternative choice on the middle place can be second-round rookie Tate Ratledge. Rapoport’s colleague Mike Garafolo notes each Ragnow and Ratledge have taken middle reps this spring.
The Lions managed to maintain a number of depth choices in place alongside the offensive line this offseason, however proper guard Kevin Zeitler departed in free company. Monday’s information means a number of strikes will have to be made alongside the inside forward of the 2025 marketing campaign. Expectations will stay excessive for Detroit’s offense in no small half because of the play of the group’s O-line. That unit will however be notably completely different with Ragnow now not within the fold.
After excelling on his rookie pact, Ragnow landed a 2021 extension. The AAV of that settlement ($13.5M) has solely been surpassed 3 times because it was signed, a sign of the middle place’s market worth, but in addition his worth to the Lions. After 100 mixed regular-season and postseason appearances, Ragnow will depart the NFL with roughly $57M in profession earnings.
