It PAYS To Be A Michigan Offensive Lineman

A trio of former Michigan offensive linemen are set to sign large extensions as the free agency period kicks off in the NFL.

Michigan football has been known for producing top-tier offensive linemen for a long, long time. Recently, under Sherrone Moore's watch, the offensive line has been award-winning at Michigan. The Wolverines brought home the Joe Moore Award given to the nation's best offensive line unit in back-to-back years in 2021 and 2022. Now, Moore is the head coach and people expect the tradition to continue.

But turn the clocks back just a little bit, to before Moore was coaching the offensive line at U-M and you still had Wolverines turn into quality NFL linemen. That is definitely evidenced by a trio of former Wolverines getting ready to ink large extensions once the free agency period officially goes live in the NFL starting tomorrow.

Michael Onwenu, Graham Glasgow and Jon Runyan Jr. are all ready to get paid. According to reports ahead of free agency, Onwenu is set to re-up with the New England Patriots on a three-year deal worth $57 million. Glasgow, a hometown favorite now with the Lions, will remain in Detroit for another three years and a $20 million extension. Finally, Runyan Jr. who has been a Green Bay Packer since 2020, is signing with the New York Giants on a three-year deal worth up to $30 million. Throw in Cesar Ruiz, who signed a four-year deal worth $44 million last year with the New Orleans Saints, and the big uglies from Michigan are doing just fine.

The Wolverines were represented by an unprecedented 18 prospects overall at the NFL Draft Combine recently, with six of them being offensive linemen. All five starters — LaDarius Henderson, Trevor Keegan, Drake Nugent, Zak Zinter and Karsen Barnhart, along with reserve Trente Jones — are all going to get a shot at playing on Sundays. 

Being big, athletic, aggressive, smart and in a winged helmet along the offensive line has proven to be a smart career decision in recent years.