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Travis Swanson (left) and Larry Warford are just part of the Detroit Lions' offensive line overhaul the past three years.

(Mike Mulholland | MLive.com)

ALLEN PARK -- Three years ago, the Detroit Lions offensive line had a completely different look. The group had continuity and experience on its side, but the tread on the tires was starting to wear thin.

That offseason, general manager Martin Mayhew began the process of revamping the unit, selecting Iowa offensive tackle Riley Reiff in the first round of the 2012 draft.

With the Lions going through their first series of organized team activities with both the veterans and the new rookie class together on the field, it seems like a good time to take a closer look at the makeover in the trenches.

On Sept.5, 2012, the day of the first regular season game, the average age of the Detroit Lions starting offensive line was more than 31 years, the oldest in the league.

Team (2012) Average Team (2012) Average Team (2012) Average Team (2012) Average Cleveland Browns 25.53 Indianapolis Colts 26.81 Washington Redskins 27.64 New York Jets 28.33 Miami Dolphins 25.78 Pittsburgh Steelers 26.88 Baltimore Ravens 27.83 New Orleans Saints 28.37 Minnesota Vikings 25.88 Green Bay Packers 26.96 Jacksonville Jaguars 27.84 Arizona Cardinals 28.63 Dallas Cowboys 26.13 Kansas City Chiefs 26.96 Chicago Bears 27.91 Oakland Raiders 29.03 Seattle Seahawks 26.20 San Francisco 49ers 27.07 New England Patriots 27.91 Atlanta Falcons 29.52 Denver Broncos 26.30 San Diego Chargers 27.08 Philadelphia Eagles 28.08 Tennessee Titans 30.11 Buffalo Bills 26.58 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27.50 Houston Texans 28.11 New York Giants 30.80 Cincinnati Bengals 26.72 Carolina Panthers 27.51 St.Louis Rams 28.29 Detroit Lions 31.25

The elder statesman of that group was left tackle Jeff Backus, who was a couple weeks shy of his 35th birthday. To put that in perspective, Eagles guard Evan Mathis is projected to be the league's oldest starting lineman this season at 33 years, nine months and 10 days.

Backus would retire following the 2012 season, giving way to Reiff at left tackle.

The youngest member of Detroit's offensive line in 2012 was Gosder Cherilus. Two months beyond his 28th birthday, he was the 96th oldest lineman, out of 160, to start Week 1 that season.

Amazingly enough, if everything goes according to plan, the 26-year-old Reiff will be the team's oldest starter this season. He'll be more than a full year younger than Cherilus was in 2012.

In total, assuming rookie Laken Tomlinson and second-year center Travis Swanson can hold off veteran Manny Ramirez in training camp, the Lions are projected to have the second-youngest starting offensive line in the NFL this season. The group will average younger than 25 years old.

Only the St. Louis Rams, with two rookies holding the inside track for starting positions, would be younger.

Team (2015) Average Team (2015) Average Team (2015) Average Team (2015) Average St.Louis Rams 24.25 San Francisco 49ers 26.33 San Diego Chargers 27.00 Baltimore Ravens 28.15 Detroit Lions 24.67 Dallas Cowboys 26.45 Pittsburgh Steelers 27.06 Cleveland Browns 28.24 Tennessee Titans 25.78 Carolina Panthers 26.45 Arizona Cardinals 27.31 Washington Redskins 28.35 New York Giants 25.81 Green Bay Packers 26.50 Minnesota Vikings 27.33 Denver Broncos 28.50 Jacksonville Jaguars 25.93 Buffalo Bills 26.67 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27.43 New York Jets 28.82 Miami Dolphins 26.00 New Orleans Saints 26.70 Cincinnati Bengals 27.48 Oakland Raiders 28.91 Atlanta Falcons 26.20 Kansas City Chiefs 26.96 Indianapolis Colts 27.84 Chicago Bears 28.93 Seattle Seahawks 26.20 Houston Texans 26.97 New England Patriots 28.12 Philadelphia Eagles 30.38

In addition to swapping out Backus with Reiff, the Lions have drafted replacements for Rob Sims, Dominic Raiola and Stephen Peterman the past two seasons.

Detroit snagged guard Larry Warford in the third round of the 2013 draft, added Swanson in the third round this year and used the team's first-round choice to select Tomlinson a month ago.

Cherilus departed in free agency following the 2012 season and right tackle has been a bit of a revolving door ever since. Regardless, whether its LaAdrian Waddle, Cornelius Lucas or rookie Corey Robinson taking the field in Week 1, only a handful of starting right tackles around the league will be younger.

With the cupboard fully restocked with youth, the Lions now need the group to quickly establish chemistry. That starts with the offseason program.

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