The 2026 NFL Draft is fast approaching which makes it a good time to review the Lions’ positional needs and how it may impact their draft strategy. Last year, defensive tackle got the biggest combined need score, and the Lions indeed filled that position in the 1st round with Tyleik Williams.

For the complete offensive positional breakdown, read Detroit Lions 2026 Draft Needs: OFFENSE Positional Rankings + Injury Impact.

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The following is the review of the interior offensive line positions.

The combined need score is the summation of positional need (0-5) plus medical concern level (0-5). The higher the score, the greater the need. I’m reserving the focus to the starters and key backups here, with health of the starters weighted more heavily.

(In parentheses are player age at the start of the 2026 season, signed-through year, and medical concern level.) *Projected starters.

Interior offensive line

*Cade Mays (27, 2028, 1/10) – The Lions’ new starting center has a low medical concern.

*Tate Ratledge (25, 2028, 3/10 ) – Did not miss a game in his rookie season, but exhibited signs of a possible neck issue.

*Christian Mahogany (25, 2027, 1/10 ) – Suffered a fibula fracture last season and has a history of a right ACL tear, but has a low concern overall.

Miles Frazier (25, 2028, 4/10) – Missed multiple months with an unspecified knee injury last season, but looked healthy in limited action over the final five games.

Juice Scruggs (26, 2026, 5/10) – History of a foot and a fractured L3 vertebrae, but was healthy in 2025.

Seth McLaughlin (25, 2026, 6/10) – No game action since Achilles tear in November 2024.

Ben Bartch (28, 2026, 9/10) – Lisfranc ended last season for him.

Positional need 2/5

The crown jewel free-agent signing of Mays at center alleviates a lot of the concerns… as long as he doesn’t show up to camp with a grade 3 hamstring. Ratledge is looking like he should be solid at RG. Mahogany is the projected starting LG, but it’s not certain how the Lions feel about him as a long-term starter. Drafting a starting-caliber OG within the first three rounds is a decent possibility.

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Medical concern 2/5

The backups all have moderate-to-severe concerns, but the projected starters are looking pretty healthy for 2026.

TOTAL 4/10

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This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Detroit Lions 2026 NFL Draft Need Analysis: Interior Offensive Line