The Detroit Lions entered the 2026 NFL Draft with a clear mission: shore up the roster's weak spots and build on a promising foundation. They did just that, addressing several key areas with their selections. But as any football fan knows, a single draft doesn't solve everything. So, what's the one glaring hole that still keeps general managers and coaches up at night?

According to ESPN's Aaron Schatz, the answer lies right up front—specifically at right guard. It's a position that has drawn plenty of scrutiny, and for good reason. The Lions are banking on a major leap from second-year man Tate Ratledge, but his rookie season left much to be desired. Schatz points to Ratledge's pass block win rate of just 87.4%, which ranked 63rd out of 65 qualifying guards. His run block win rate of 69.9% also fell below the league average. Those numbers aren't what you'd expect from a starter on a team with playoff aspirations.

Here's the twist, though: the Lions aren't panicking. Head coach Dan Campbell has been high on Ratledge since the moment he was drafted in the second round last year. Campbell even went so far as to say Ratledge "looked like a starting NFL guard" back in training camp. And sure enough, the 6-foot-6, 315-pound Georgia product started all 17 games at right guard. That kind of vote of confidence from the coaching staff matters.

Dig a little deeper, and there's reason for optimism. Pro Football Focus gave Ratledge a 73.5 run-blocking grade, which ranked 12th among all NFL guards and second among rookies. Over his final 12 games, he didn't allow a single sack and surrendered just four quarterback hits. That's the kind of late-season growth that gets a coaching staff excited about the future.

There was even talk of moving Ratledge to center this offseason, but those plans were shelved after the Lions signed veteran Cade Mays in free agency. Now, it looks like Ratledge is the long-term answer at right guard—and the organization is betting on him to take another step forward.

As Campbell put it, "There's been growth. That's really what you want out of your rookies. You want to feel like there has been growth taking place. Being between Graham (Glasgow) and (Penei) Sewell for most of the year has helped, but there's a ton of growth left. He's going to have to take another step next year."

For Lions fans, the message is clear: the hole at right guard isn't a gaping wound, but it's a spot that demands improvement. If Ratledge can build on his rookie flashes, Detroit's offensive line could go from a question mark to a powerhouse. And that's exactly the kind of story we love to follow as the season approaches.