NFL News: Lions sign Lamar Jackson’s former Ravens teammate to help Jared Goff after losing key player

The Detroit Lions saw one of their best offensive linemen retire. Frank Ragnow left a big hole in the mission of protecting Jared Goff. Now, Mike Garofolo from NFL media reports that they will add NFL veteran Trystan Colon on a one-year deal. Colon was part of a great offensive line back in the day with the Baltimore Ravens. If he could protect a mobile Lamar Jackson, he should be important for the Lions, as Goff is more of a pocket passer.

Dan Campbell, the Lions head coach, has set a culture of hard work. Much of that is seen in the O-Line. They are an elite crew that can both pass block and run block to the highest of levels. With that in mind, a versatile player like Colon, who has played as a guard and a center, can be very helpful.

However, Colon can’t just assume he will have snaps. He was signed to the 90-man offseason roster. This means he will have to compete with Graham Glasgow, second-round pick Tate Ratledge, and fifth-round rookie Miles Frazier. It’s not a “gimme” of any sorts. Having said so, his versatility could be useful for an offense as explosive as the Lions’.

Colon joins a top-tier franchise

By joining the Lions, Colon add another starring franchise to his resume. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in 2020. The Missouri alumn spent his first three years protecting Lamar Jackson. He was then signed by the Arizona Cardinals. Colon played two years there trying to shield another mobile QB in Kyler Murray.

Trystan Colon #63 of the Arizona Cardinals looks on against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on November 24, 2024 in Seattle, Washington.

The Lions were an atrocious franchise. When Detroit signed Dan Cambpell as head coach, it all changed. Campbell wasn’t a tactical genius or a deep thinker, he is courageous and creative. That made the Lions go from a bottom-of-the-barrel team to one of the best in the NFL in no time. Colon has dealt with high expectations before from his time in Baltimore. It’s expected that he knows how to deal with the Lions’ expectations. It’s Super Bowl or bust.

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However, even if the expectations are high, there is a big difference this time. The task of protecting a pocket passer like Goff and dual-threat QBs like Jackson and Murray are infinitely different. There’s also a new guard in the offense. Detroit will have a new offensive coordinator as John Morton replaces Ben Johnson.

Not only that, but he is in task of replacing a big-time name like Frank Ragnow. Ragnow was a stellar center for the Lions for seven years. He retired at 28 years old and left Detroit looking for a replacement. The now-former Lion had four Pro-Bowl season and was regarded as a top 5 center in the league.

Johnson left to become the Chicago Bears‘ HC, and he was the mastermind behind the Lions’ amazing offense in the last few years. He used to put much emphasis in the run-game as well as play-action. Will Morton have the same ideas? We don’t know yet, but Colon will have to adapt.