3 years later: Re-evaluating the Detroit Lions’ 2016 draft class

Graham Glasgow, C/G

Selected: Third round / pick #32 (95th overall/compensatory selection)
School: Michigan
Position: Center / Guard
Career statistics: 47 games, 43 starts
Current status: Lions’ projected starting right guard

Arguably the Lions’ best pick of this draft, Glasgow wasted little time in his rookie season forcing his way into the starting lineup. This was thanks partly to 2015’s disappointing first round pick Laken Tomlinson’s performance as well as incumbent starting center Travis Swanson’s concussion problems. Ridiculously dependable and durable, Glasgow has missed just one offensive snap over the past two seasons. One.

He’s not a star, and may never be, but he’s a rock-solid, low maintenance, versatile lineman, which is harder to find in the NFL than one may think. He’s been mostly a center in Detroit, but will switch to right guard this season to accommodate last year’s first rounder Frank Ragnow, as Ragnow shifts to his more natural pivot position. Oh yeah, Glasgow played left guard in 2017. No problem.

At 6-foot-6, he’s a little tall for an interior player, which can hinder his leverage against quicker defensive linemen. Still, he makes up for it with his smarts, communication and knowledge of multiple positions on the line. He’s able to cover for teammates on missed blocks, and does a great job on pull assignments. He was a big part of the Lions’ improved play up front in 2018.

Glasgow is a prime candidate for a contract extension this summer, though his teammate, who appears later on this list, beat him to it last week. Finding a player as dependable and versatile as Glasgow is rare, and chances are he will be re-upped by this time a month from now.