Christian Mahogany Poised for a Key Role in the Lions’ 2025 Season
Christian Mahogany is set for a significant opportunity as the Detroit Lions look to 2025. After being selected in the sixth round (210th overall) of the 2024 NFL Draft, Mahogany joined a highly ranked offensive line, where he didn’t need to start right away. Despite his draft position, there were understandable reasons why Mahogany fell to the sixth round, including injury concerns.
His rookie season, however, was derailed by a lengthy battle with mono, which kept him on the NFI list until nearly November. Once healthy, Mahogany earned a spot on the 53-man roster and quickly became the primary backup guard for the Lions. He had the chance to showcase his abilities when he started two games, one at each guard position. In Week 16, against the Chicago Bears, he earned a solid Football Focus grade among guards, allowing only one pressure on 33 pass-blocking snaps. Later, he was called up to start at right guard in the playoff loss to the Washington Commanders, where he once again proved his value as a reliable option.
With veteran Kevin Zeitler’s departure in free agency, Mahogany now finds himself in prime position to step into a starting role at right guard for 2025. As for Graham Glasgow, who struggled after shifting to left guard last season to accommodate Zeitler, Mahogany could emerge as the top contender for a starting spot.
A Golden Opportunity for Mahogany in 2025
It seems all but certain that Mahogany will secure a starting position in the Lions’ offensive line next season. Pro Football Network pointed out that Mahogany’s strong late-season performances set him up as one of the likely candidates to step into a starting role. Detroit’s offensive line was ranked 5th by Pro Football Focus, but with Glasgow’s declining performance and Zeitler’s exit to the Tennessee Titans, Mahogany has the inside track.
While Mahogany’s sample size is small, his impressive play in 143 snaps—allowing just one sack and four pressures—demonstrated his potential. Although the Lions might add a veteran to bolster their line depth, they are expected to give Mahogany every chance to secure a starting role. The only way Mahogany could lose his spot would be through injury or a significant drop in performance, which seems unlikely given the momentum he built during the tail end of the 2024 season. Either way, the starting job will likely be his to lose, and the Lions are confident he’ll rise to the challenge.
