While the timing of his announcement feels less than ideal, the Detroit Lions clearly had some indication four-time Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow might retire this offseason. There’s no replacing one of the best centers in the league over the last handful of years, but there is presumably some level of a plan to figure it out now and for the future.
The list of good outside options to replace Ragnow is obviously short, but on Wednesday the Lions added a body to the competition by signing center/guard Trystan Colon.
Colon did not take any snaps at center for the Arizona Cardinals last season, but he has experience there and if nothing else he can be valuable interior line depth at multiple spots as things get sorted out in the wake of Ragnow retiring.
Once training camp is here, and position battles elsewhere get better sorted out, the Lions may get a fresh list of possible options to replace Ragnow. But there is one who might there for the taking right now, and the Lions could make an immediate play to get him.
Top potential Lions’ trade target to replace Frank Ragnow has been unearthed
Wendell Ferreira covers the Green Bay Packers and New York Jets for AtoZ Sports. After the news of Ragnow’s retirement, he proposed the “perfect” option for the Lions to replace Ragnow.
“Back in March, the Jets signed former Green Bay Packers starting center Josh Myers to a one-year, $2 million contract. The deal also includes $1.5 million in incentives, but only $1 million of it is likely to be earned — which means Myers’ cap hit in 2025 is $3 million.”
Barring an injury, Myers is unlikely to unseat Joe Tippmann as the Jets’ starting center. Keeping him around as an experienced depth option would be a good idea, but as Ferreira noted the Jets have shifted their organizational objective. With that in mind, Myers looks like a tradeable asset if there’s an opportunity.
He is familiar to the Lions, and he is obviously familiar with the NFC North, so there may be no better opportunity to move Myers.
Myers has not had the kind of career the Packers envisioned when they took him in the second round of the 2021 draft, notably taking him one pick before Creed Humphrey, who is now one of the best centers in the league. But he has been solid and durable, playing nearly every one of Green Bay’s offensive snaps over the last three seasons.
Mike Payton of AtoZ Sports proposed Detroit only having to give up a 2026 seventh-round pick to get Myers. Former defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn now being the head coach of the Jets could grease the skids for a trade, and if the Lions are doing proper due diligence they are at least keeping an eye on Myers’ potential availability.
