Brad Holmes said the Lions weren’t done in free agency, and he meant it. Detroit added more offensive line depth by signing versatile lineman Ben Bartch, a move that continues the team’s offseason trend of building size, flexibility and depth in the trenches.
Recently, Brad Holmes sat down with the Lions Collective podcast and answered numerous questions, including topics about free agency and whether the Detroit Lions were done signing players. Holmes quickly said no and made it clear there were more moves coming. That proved to be true as the Lions signed former San Francisco 49ers offensive lineman Ben Bartch, continuing their trend of adding size, depth and versatility in the trenches.
Bartch is another massive addition to Detroit’s offensive line, standing 6-foot-6 and weighing 315 pounds. The Lions have clearly made it a priority to build one of the biggest offensive lines in the NFL, and Bartch fits that mold perfectly. He has spent six years in the NFL with stints on the Jacksonville Jaguars and the 49ers. He is a very versatile offensive lineman, having played every position on the line except center, which makes him a valuable depth piece.
Bartch was selected in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft and was also the first Division III player drafted since 2015. His path to the NFL is unique. He entered college as a tight end before transforming his body and moving to offensive tackle. During college, Bartch famously gained roughly 75 pounds by consuming a daily smoothie that included seven eggs, cottage cheese, grits, peanut butter and bananas. That transformation helped turn him into a legitimate NFL offensive line prospect. He eventually started his NFL career as a left guard for Jacksonville and has since developed into a multi-position lineman.
In his career, Bartch has started 24 games, though only four of those starts have come over the last two seasons. He should bring solid depth to the Lions offensive line as a player who can step in at multiple positions if injuries occur.
Injury History Breakdown
Bartch has dealt with several injuries throughout his career, which is something to keep in mind when evaluating this signing. In 2025 with San Francisco, he suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 2 that caused him to miss time. Later in the season, he suffered a season-ending foot sprain, potentially a Lisfranc injury, in Week 13 that required surgery. He also dealt with a quadriceps injury during training camp that year.
In 2024, while with Jacksonville and later San Francisco, Bartch spent time on injured reserve with a knee injury. In 2022, he suffered a dislocated knee and ligament damage in Week 5 while playing for Jacksonville, which ended his season and required a move to injured reserve. Injuries have clearly been a factor in his career and likely played a role in him becoming more of a depth player rather than a full-time starter.
Despite the injuries, Bartch has had some solid stretches of play. In 2021, he started 11 games, the most in a single season in his career. That season, he played 705 snaps and posted a 62.1 overall Pro Football Focus grade, including a 63.1 run-blocking grade and a 52.8 pass-blocking grade. He had just two penalties and allowed three sacks while also allowing five quarterback hits. Those grades were middle-of-the-road but showed he could hold his own as a starter when needed.
In 2025, he started two games for the 49ers and played 200 snaps. He posted a 71.7 overall grade, a 65.4 pass-blocking grade and a 69.7 run-blocking grade. Those were noticeable improvements compared to earlier in his career and showed development as a player.
Over his full career, Bartch has played 1,722 snaps. During that time, he has committed just three penalties, allowed six sacks, given up 14 quarterback hits and allowed 53 quarterback pressures. In comparison, Tate Ratledge allowed pressures on about 2.2% of his snaps, while Bartch allowed pressure on about 3% of his snaps. Bartch also allowed a quarterback hit on less than 1% of his snaps, which was nearly identical to Ratledge.
One thing that stands out is not just Bartch’s versatility and ability to play nearly every position on the offensive line, but also his discipline. Only three penalties over an entire career is very impressive for an offensive lineman and shows he is a fundamentally sound player who will not hurt the team with penalties.
Holmes has shown a clear theme this offseason of signing players who are not just great at one position but can play multiple roles. Bartch fits that mold perfectly. He is likely not coming in to be a starter, but instead to serve as a sixth offensive lineman and key depth piece. His role could be very similar to what Dan Skipper has had over the years in Detroit — a versatile lineman who can step in at multiple positions and provide depth throughout the season.
Overall, this may not be a flashy signing, but it is the type of move good teams make. Building depth along the offensive line is critical over the course of a long season, and the Lions continue to invest in the trenches, which has been a major reason for their recent success.