Frank Ragnow
No. 77 – Detroit Lions
Position:Center
Personal information
Born: (1996-05-17) May 17, 1996 (age 27)
Victoria, Minnesota, U.S.
Height:6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:309 lb (140 kg)
Career information
High school:Chanhassen
College:Arkansas (2014–2017)
NFL Draft:2018 / Round: 1 / Pick: 20
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2022
Games played:65
Games started:65
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Frank Ragnow (born May 17, 1996)[1] is an American football center for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Arkansas, and was selected by the Lions in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

High school career

Ragnow attended Chanhassen High School in Chanhassen, Minnesota. He was rated as the 24th-best offensive tackle in the nation and the No. 3 prospect from Minnesota as a senior. ESPN evaluated him as a four-star athlete. Ragnow ultimately committed to play for the University of Arkansas after receiving offers from schools such as Wisconsin, Vanderbilt, Minnesota, Ohio State, and Florida State. He was also on the track & field team throwing the shot put 57 ft 6+1⁄4 in (17.532 m) in the Class AA State Finals, finishing in second place.[2]

College career

Ragnow participated in nine of Arkansas' twelve games as a freshman, playing as a center. He played a role in Arkansas' spot atop the SEC with 0 sacks allowed. As a sophomore, Ragnow started all thirteen of the Razorbacks' games as a right guard, allowing no sacks in the season's last seven games. As a junior, Ragnow started 12 games as the Hogs' center and the other as the right guard, playing more than 900 snaps. He played as the starting center as a senior in 2017.

Professional career

External video
video icon Frank Ragnow NFL Combine Interview
Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 5+1⁄8 in
(1.96 m) 		312 lb
(142 kg) 		33+1⁄8 in
(0.84 m) 		9+3⁄8 in
(0.24 m)		 4.99 s 1.74 s 2.91 s 4.51 s 8.04 s 33+1⁄2 in
(0.85 m)		 9 ft 7 in
(2.92 m)		 27 reps
All values from NFL Combine/Arkansas' Pro Day[3][4]

The Detroit Lions selected Ragnow in the first round (20th overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft.[5] Ragnow was the first center drafted in 2018 and was the second interior linemen drafted.[6] Ragnow became the highest drafted center from Arkansas, surpassing Steve Korte who was selected 38th overall during the 1983 NFL Draft.[7]

External video
video icon Lions draft Frank Ragnow 20th overall
video icon Instant Draft Grade: Frank Ragnow

On May 12, 2018, the Detroit Lions signed Ragnow to a four-year, $11.78 million contract that includes $9.21 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $6.64 million.[8]

The Detroit Lions immediately moved Ragnow to offensive guard although he had been used chiefly as a center during his collegiate career.[9] The Lions had Graham Glasgow slated to be the starting center after the departure of Travis Swanson.[10] Head coach Matt Patricia named Ragnow the starting left guard to begin the regular season. He started alongside offensive tackles Taylor Decker, Rick Wagner, right guard T. J. Lang, and center Graham Glasgow.[11]

He made his professional regular season debut and first career start during the Detroit Lions' season-opening 48-17 loss to the New York Jets.[12] He finished the season starting all 16 games at left guard. On December 21, 2020, he was named to the 2021 Pro Bowl.[13]

On April 28, 2021, the Lions exercised the fifth-year option on Ragnow's contract.[14] He signed a four-year contract extension worth $54 million with the Lions on May 7.[15][16]

On October 6, 2021, Ragnow was placed on injured reserve with a toe injury.[17]

References

  1. ^ "#72 Frank Ragnow". arkansasrazorbacks.com. University of Arkansas. May 8, 2015. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  2. ^ "MN State A and AA Finals - Mens Class AA Shot Put". Athletic.net. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  3. ^ "NFL Draft Prospect Profile - Frank Ragnow". nfl.com. March 1, 2018. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
  4. ^ "Arkansas C Frank Ragnow : 2018 NFL Draft Scout Player Profile". NFLDraftScout.com. Retrieved May 12, 2018.
  5. ^ "2018 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  6. ^ Twentyman, Tim (April 26, 2018). "Detroit Lions draft center Frank Ragnow". DetroitLions.com. Archived from the original on April 27, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
  7. ^ "Pro-Football-Reference: Arkansas NFL Draft History". pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  8. ^ "Spotrac.com: Frank Ragnow contract". Spotrac.com. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  9. ^ "2018 training camp preview: Interior offensive line". DetroitLions.com. July 12, 2018. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  10. ^ "Lions move Frank Ragnow to center, but should get back Graham Glasgow soon". Mlive.com. August 14, 2018. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  11. ^ "Lions reveal second depth chart for 2018 season". 247Sports.com. September 13, 2018. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  12. ^ "NFL Player stats: Frank Ragnow (2018)". NFL.com. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  13. ^ Birkett, Dave (December 21, 2020). "Detroit Lions have three 2020 Pro Bowlers: T.J. Hockenson, Frank Ragnow, Jack Fox". The Detroit News. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
  14. ^ "Lions exercise fifth-year option for OL Frank Ragnow". DetroitLions.com. April 28, 2021.
  15. ^ Woodyard, Eric (May 6, 2021). "Detroit Lions making Frank Ragnow NFL's top-paid center, source says". ESPN.com. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
  16. ^ "Lions sign OL Frank Ragnow to contract extension through 2026 season". DetroitLions.com. May 7, 2021. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
  17. ^ "Detroit Lions place Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow on IR with toe injury". ESPN.com. October 6, 2021.

External links

Arkansas Razorbacks bio

Detroit Lions bio

2018 NFL Draft first-round selections
Detroit Lions first-round draft picks
Detroit Lions 2018 NFL draft selections
Detroit Lions roster
Categories