Detroit Lions select Tate Ratledge in second round of 2025 NFL Draft

The Detroit Lions selected Georgia Bulldogs offensive lineman Tate Ratledge in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft. He is now in the NFL after spending the last five seasons with the Bulldogs.

Ratledge joined the Bulldogs in 2020 and just played in one game. He became the starting right guard in 2021 but suffered a season-ending foot injury in the season opener. Tate Ratledge returned in 2022 and started in all 14 games for the Bulldogs in a national championship season.

The following season, Ratledge started 13 games at right guard and was named to the Associated Press All-America Second Team and the All-SEC First Team. He was also named a finalist for the Joe Moore Award (nation’s top offensive lineman). Last year, Ratledge missed four games due to an ankle injury but was still named to the All-SEC First Team at right guard.

“Athens will always be special to me, but with that being said, I will be declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft,” Ratledge said in January. “It has been an honor to be a University of Georgia Student Athlete. There truly is no tradition more (worthy) of envy, no institution worthy of such loyalty as the University of Georgia. Go Dawgs!”

Ratledge played high school football at the Darlington School in Rome, Georgia. He ranked as the No. 41 overall player and No. 4 offensive tackle in the Class of 2020, according to the On3 Industry Rankings, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

What NFL Draft analysts are saying about Tate Ratledge

Lance Zierlein of the NFL.com gave an analysis on Ratledge for his draft profile. Zierlein projected him to be selected in the second round and believes he will be a good NFL starting offensive lineman.

“A three-year starting right guard with a relatively safe floor, Ratledge plays with a dirt-dog mentality,” Zierlein wrote. “His pad level is too high, but he mauls his way into early advantages in the run game. He has strong hands and uses them effectively to control and sustain his block.

“He’s an average athlete with adequate foot quickness and technique to get the job done. Ratledge lacks length and will reach when punching, opening him to quick counters. He sees and handles twists with above-average success and has enough anchor and redirect power to protect his pocket. Ratledge’s mentality and toughness should help him become a solid starter fairly quickly.”