Pros and Cons of Lions Bringing Back Graham Glasgow

Read more on the pros and cons of the Detroit Lions reuniting with offensive lineman Graham Glasgow.

Heading into the free-agency portion of the offseason, the Detroit Lions have an opportunity to upgrade the talent on their roster. The 2022 team showed flashes of being able to compete with the best of the best, so the offseason will be a pivotal one for general manager Brad Holmes and company.

Among the areas that may need an upgrade is the offensive line. 

In particular, the Lions have uncertainty at the right guard position, after starter Halapoulivaati Vaitai missed the entire 2022 season with a back injury.

Vaitai is a potential cap casualty, as the Lions could add valuable cap space by releasing him. Among the potential replacements on the free-agent market is Graham Glasgow, who was most recently released by the Denver Broncos.

A former member of the Lions, Glasgow could be on his way back after a three-year tenure with the Broncos. He broke into the league in Detroit, playing for the Lions from 2016-19. He’s a versatile lineman, with experience at both center and guard.

Mark Konezny, USA TODAY Sports

Returning to Motown could make sense for both parties. For one, the veteran would be ready to contribute immediately, and perhaps step in for Vaitai on the right side of the offensive line. His experience would be instrumental for the development of the young players up front, such as Penei Sewell and Jonah Jackson.

Glasgow is 30 years old, which would make him the oldest current Lions player. Holmes and company have made it clear they want to build through the draft, so replacing an injured guard with one a year older may not be the most ideal situation.

Still, bringing in Glasgow on a short-term contract wouldn’t be a bad option. The Lions could still add a guard through the draft, plus pair him with the veteran to develop. With versatile backup Evan Brown hitting free agency, the Lions need to add depth.

Health wasn’t a big issue for Glasgow in 2022, as he played in all 17 games. In 2021, however, he played in just seven games.

Another element is the fact that Glasgow was teammates with the likes of Taylor Decker and Frank Ragnow, so a reunion could be good in the locker room, as well.

However, his on-field performance hasn’t been ideal as of late. He was penalized 10 times in 2022, among the worst totals in the league. Additionally he posted average run-and-pass-blocking Pro Football Focus grades of 61.6 and 62.7, respectively.

Glasgow could be a good veteran addition, but he’s not worth a significant commitment. On a short-term contract, he would be beneficial. However, I don’t see the Lions offering anything more than a two-year deal.