Frank Ragnow

Born on May 17, 1996, Frank Ragnow has established a successful career in the National Football League as a professional football center. Known for his expertise, Ragnow plays for the Detroit Lions and is highly acclaimed for his football prowess. His journey in professional football began in college when he played for the Arkansas Razorbacks. His talent saw him being selected by the Detroit Lions in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft, a prestigious achievement for any football aspirant.

Ragnow’s football journey began at Chanhassen High School in Minnesota. His football acumen was soon recognized, and he was rated the 24th best offensive tackle in the nation, and the third best prospect from Minnesota at the end of his senior year. He earned himself an evaluation as a four-star athlete from ESPN, a testament to his athleticism. His stellar performances at Chanhassen High School led to offers from renowned schools such as Ohio State, Wisconsin, Florida State, Minnesota, and Vanderbilt. However, Ragnow chose the University of Arkansas to further his football aspirations.

Simultaneously, Ragnow was a part of the track and field team at Chanhassen High School where he threw the shot put measuring 57ft 6+1⁄4 inches in the Class AA State Finals, earning himself a second-place finish.

Ragnow’s freshman year at the University of Arkansas saw him participate in nine out of twelve games as the center. He played a crucial role in ensuring Arkansas remained at the top of the SEC with zero sacks allowed. Graduating to a sophomore, Ragnow started all thirteen games as a right guard and showcased an impressive performance by not allowing a single sack in the last seven games of the season. Playing over 900 snaps in his junior year, Ragnow started twelve games as the center and one game as the right guard, showcasing his immense versatility. His senior year was just as impressive, and he graduated as the starting center, having never allowed a sack.

Ragnow’s impressive collegiate career led to his selection by the Detroit Lions in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft, a move that made him the first center to be drafted that year and the second interior lineman. He also became the highest drafted center from Arkansas, a record previously held by Steve Korte who was drafted 38th overall in the 1983 NFL draft.

On May 12, 2018, the Detroit Lions signed Ragnow to a four-year contract worth $11.78 million, which included $9.21 million guaranteed and a $6.64 million signing bonus. Following his signing, Ragnow was moved to the offensive guard position, a change from his usual position as center during his collegiate career. He was made the starting left guard at the beginning of the regular season, starting alongside offensive tackles Taylor Decker and Rick Wagner, right guard T. J. Lang, and center Graham Glasgow.

Ragnow’s first professional regular-season debut was marked by the Lion’s 48-17 loss to the New York Jets. Despite the loss, Ragnow exhibited outstanding consistency, starting all 16 games at left guard. His performance earned him a spot on the 2021 Pro Bowl roster on December 21, 2020.

Continuing to make strides in his professional career, the Detroit Lions exercised the fifth-year option of Ragnow’s contract on April 28, 2021. He later signed a four-year contract extension worth $54 million with the Lions on May 7, further extending his tenure with the team.

However, adversity struck when Ragnow was placed on injured reserve due to a toe injury on October 6, 2021. Despite the setback, his contributions to the Detroit Lions remains unarguably significant, making him a key addition to the team.