FAYETTEVILLE — Former Arkansas center Frank Ragnow was selected by the Detroit Lions with the 20th pick of the NFL Draft on Thursday.
Ragnow was the first center taken in the draft. In Detroit he fills a void created when former Razorback Travis Swanson left for the New York Jets via free agency.
Swanson was a third-round pick of the Lions in 2014 and started 42 games in four seasons, but he suffered season-ending concussions in each of the past two seasons. Starting guard Graham Glasgow moved to center to replace Swanson both years.
Ragnow is the first Arkansas player selected in the first round since running backs Darren McFadden and Felix Jones were taken with the fourth and 22nd picks, respectively, in 2008.