Notes: Frank Ragnow key to Detroit Lions’ 2020 success

With 2019 in the rear view mirror, one analyst believes center Frank Ragnow not only added more value than expected in 2019 but also may play a big role in righting the ship.

Just prior to Wildcard Weekend, Pro Football Focus’s Steve Palazzolo chose one player from each of the then-20 teams already into the offseason that give cause for some optimism.

For the Detroit Lions, that was Frank Ragnow and his move to center. The 23-year-old first-round 2018 draft pick out of Arkansas finished the regular season as the sixth-highest graded center in the league.

Palazzolo writes: “Ragnow struggled to a 61.9 grade as a rookie in 2018 while trying to play left guard, but he returned to his more natural position where he dominated in the SEC for multiple years on his way to first round draft status.”

Ragnow’s currently sitting at a 74.9 grade, jumping nearly 15 points in both run-blocking and pass-blocking.

With such a major improvement following his position change from his rookie year to his sophomore campaign, Ragnow may continue to rise in 2020.

Take a look at him in this clip (just avert your eyes for the first sentence of the tweet.)

On to the rest of your notes.

• The Athletic’s Chris Burke offers a player-by-player breakdown of the Lions’ free-agent class. (Subscription required)

• It’s unlikely the Lions will pick a quarterback at number three, but mlive.com’s Benjamin Raven suggests five quarterbacks that could make sense for Detroit.

• Matthew Stafford talked about dealing with his season-ending injury and how soon he thinks he’ll be back. That full interview:

• LionsWire’s Erik Schlitt took round-by-round polls to ask fans on Twitter who they thought should be the team’s pick from the talent available in his simulated mock draft. The results of this first fan mock draft was heavy on defense but also featured two offensive skill players and a potential tackle-to-guard convert.

• Cool cool cool cool cool.

• Speaking of that day, Dave Birkett of The Detroit Free Press took a look back at the Lions 38-6 win over the Dallas Cowboys.

• LionsWire’s Jeff Risdon offers a list of potential Lions coaching hires that have been freed up now that the Patriots and the Bills lost this past weekend.