The Detroit Lions just beefed up their offensive line with a bulldog-sized bite, snatching Georgia guard Tate Ratledge in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft. But while Ratledge is busy moving D-linemen out of the way, off the field, he just made the most important move of his life—and it had nothing to do with football. That’s right. Just weeks before hearing his name called on draft night, the 6-foot-6 mauler from Georgia got down on one knee and locked in forever with his longtime sweetheart, Annabelle Braden.

Just weeks before his big draft moment, Ratledge popped the question. The date? April 5th. The vibes? Straight fairytale. Annabelle shared the news on Instagram with a glowing ring and a caption that read like a prayer and a love letter rolled into one: “Thank you Jesus for the last 7 years and for the lifetime of love to come.” She even pulled from scripture—“I have found the one whom my soul loves.” (Song of Solomon 3:4 for the Bible folks.) Their story’s got some serious homegrown charm. Both from Rome, Georgia, and both products of Darlington High—she hooped, and he balled out on the gridiron. First Instagram post together? October 15, 2017. Been locked in ever since.

But don’t mistake Annabelle for just a sideline supporter—she’s been grinding too. According to her LinkedIn, she’s been holding it down as Georgia Football’s Recruiting Specialist at the University of Georgia Athletic Association since June 2021. Before that? She worked as a front desk receptionist at Foundation Orthodontics and ran social media marketing for Top Hat Formal Wear from 2018 to 2022. Annabelle Braden also runs her own Amazon business, adding entrepreneur to her growing list of titles. She sells a mix of cosmetics, stylish clothing, and thoughtful couple gifts through her online storefront. Beauty, hustle, and heart—she’s got the whole package. Girl’s got a résumé, no cap.

Academically, she’s made the rounds—Darlington School, then time at Kennesaw State, University of North Georgia, and finally UGA. If there’s ever been a couple built to withstand the SEC storm and the NFL spotlight, it’s these two. Now, as Tate trades Athens red for Honolulu blue, he’s not making the leap solo.

Tate Ratledge: Draft pick analysis

Call it a chess move, not checkers—the Lions didn’t sit back and wait. They traded up to snag Tate Ratledge with the 57th overall pick, giving up No. 60 and No. 130 to the Broncos in the process, while getting back No. 230. That’s how much they believed in the 6’6″, 308-pound juggernaut from Georgia. It’s not every day you see a front office make a move this bold for a guard, but Ratledge isn’t just any guard. He’s built like a vending machine and moves like a tight end—a rare breed.

Over 5 seasons at Georgia, the man has started 37 games and protected more 5-star QBs than most O-linemen dream of. And it wasn’t just quantity—it was quality. The man allowed just 2 sacks across his entire college career. That’s some Pentagon-level protection. And the cherry? Back-to-back first-team All-SEC nods. You don’t get that unless you’re dominating at the line of scrimmage like it’s your backyard.

ESPN’s Louis Riddick couldn’t hold back from joy: “New offensive coordinator John Morton is going to absolutely love him,” Riddick said. “He dealt with an ankle injury, missed a couple games in 2024, but this guy is legit. Excellent balance, functional strength, he’s consistent, he can pull, he can get to the second level, he can lock up on linebackers, he’s got quick feet. You see the hand use, you see how he can punch, reset, get control of 3 techniques, he can block them one-on-one. There’s really nothing he can’t do.” That’s some top 5 pick type of praise.

The Lions lost Kevin Zeitler in free agency to Titans, and Detroit fans were holding their breath to see who’d step up in the trenches. With Tate Ratledge on the lock, the Lions’ fans can go back to their homes happily. New OC John Morton’s offense is going to need dogs who can pull and protect. Ratledge fits the mold, and more importantly, he fits the Dan Campbell vibe—blue-collar, and no-nonsense.

And while some folks may raise an eyebrow at trading up for a guard, Detroit didn’t flinch. They’ve seen enough one-and-done linemen walk through those doors. Thank God, Ratledge is a plug-and-play, mold-and-build, grow-your-core kind of player. A future captain type. The kind of guy who plays 10 years and never takes a rep off. He’s got Annabelle—his day one, his “I do”—right beside him for the next chapter. Tate Ratledge isn’t just stepping into the NFL—he’s storming in, helmet first, with love in one hand and a playbook in the other. Detroit, you’ve got a real one.