Expect Graham Glasgow to return to the Detroit Lions next year

A Detroit Lions versatile offensive lineman will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season but don’t expect him to go elsewhere in 2020.

After Sunday’s season finale with the Green Bay Packers, Graham Glasgow will have completed his fourth full season with the Detroit Lions and become an unrestricted free agent. He will be eligible to sign with any team he prefers. There has been much speculation whether or not he will return to Detroit next season, but these concerns are likely unfounded.

In most cases, when a team wants to lock up a valuable asset they usually extend their contract before the final season. But Glasgow’s a different type of player and his situation is much different from most. He knew he could do better in 2019 and was willing to wait a year to prove himself before committing to a long-term contract.

Graham is the oldest of three sons of Steven and Michelle Glasgow, both orthopedic surgeons from DeKalb, Illinois, just outside of Chicago. Being an excellent student he had the option to go to Harvard or Yale and visited both schools, but chose The University Of Michigan because he “liked” it better and wanted to continue to play football as he and his brothers have.

He walked on without a scholarship. Then, worked his way to getting that scholarship, becoming a starter while receiving Academic All-American recognition all three years.

Graham’s brother Ryan chose the same path the following year. Then youngest brother Jordan joined two years after him. Each one eventually earned scholarships and the two oldest were drafted and have played in the NFL, Graham being a third-round choice by the Detroit Lions in 2016  and Ryan in the fourth-round by Cincinnati the following spring. Younger brother Jordan is a fifth-year senior with the Wolverines and is looking to be drafted next April as well.

Football has always been a family venture for the Graham family. Every weekend the parents drive to Ann Arbor to see Jordan play, and Sunday for either Graham if the Lions are playing at home or to watch Ryan in Cincinnati if the road game is too far to drive. The family purchased a condominium in Ann Arbor for the grandparents so they could be a part of the family weekend activities as well.

The Glasgow brothers are all accustomed to being underrated, being forced to prove themselves along the way. They have always succeeded in doing so. When asked back in April about his contract by a writer, Graham deflected the question, preferring to focus on simply becoming a better player.

In 2018 Graham earned a performance bonus from the NFL that was almost equal to his annual rookie salary of $675,000. Such bonuses are given out by the NFL to those whose level of play value exceeds their contracts.

Glasgow played in every snap but one that year, and of the 30 handed out that year, his bonus was the 13th largest and more than any other Detroit Lions. He’s likely to be in a position to demand an annual salary north of $10 million.

The Lions need an effective running game and, as we’ve learned, the absolute necessity of being able to protect franchise quarterback Matthew Stafford. Why would he or the Lions want him to be anywhere else? And Quinn is not so foolish to let such a valuable commodity go who, along with the entire Glasgow family, has every reason to stay.

Graham Glasgow’s not worried about it, and neither should Lions’ fans. Look for him to return next year with a hefty long-term contract.