Tate Ratledge is ready to roar in the NFL, and it seems the former Georgia football team captain couldn\u2019t have landed in a better situation.<\/p>\n
The Detroit Lions, coming off back-to-back NFL playoff appearances for the first time in 30 years, strengthened their offensive line by selecting Ratledge in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft last Friday.<\/p>\n
For Ratledge, who started 37 games at Georgia, it seems like a situation that was meant to be.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is actually a tattoo of a lion on my forearm \u2014 that kind of came full circle, and I didn\u2019t even process that until now, a foreshadow,\u201d Ratledge said during his post-draft video interview.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think Lions are the king of the jungle for a reason, just their mentality, their attitude, the way they go about their whole life,\u201d Ratledge said. \u201cI think it\u2019s something that I kind of attach my lifestyle to, that mentality of never satisfied, never quits.\u201d<\/p>\n
No doubt, Ratledge paid his dues playing in one of the most physical and intense environments in college football over the past five seasons.<\/p>\n
Ratledge has already lined up against some of the NFL\u2019s best defensive linemen on a daily basis while developing into an elite player, himself, at Georgia.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Ratledge took on the likes of future NFL first-round picks Jordan Davis, Jalen Carter, Devonte Wyatt, Nolan Smith and Travon Walker while with the Bulldogs.<\/p>\n
And now Ratledge, a former college All-American and Top 50 prep prospect <\/a>from the Darlington School in Rome, Ga., is ready to mix it up alongside the best.<\/p>\n \u201c(Detroit) has had one of the best offensive lines in the league for a while now, the way they play, they\u2019re physical, they\u2019re tough and play fast,\u201d Ratledge said. \u201cThe tape, I watch a decent bit, (and) just watching them play and seeing how they play, and what I can do.\u201d<\/p>\n