When free agency begins in March, the Detroit Lions should make re-signing offensive guard Graham Glasgow a priority right away.
The Detroit Lions have plenty of holes to fill this offseason and many have been focusing on the defensive side of the ball. But the team could have a glaring need on the interior of the offensive line if they let guard Graham Glasgow walk away in free agency.
To begin with, there aren’t that many other options out there for offensive guards that are unrestricted free agents. Sure, the Lions could go after a New England Patriots player in free-agent guard Joe Thuney, considered by many as the top player available at the position. Or, they could keep one of their own.
This is where keeping Glasgow starts to make a lot of sense. He knows the scheme and the system. He knows his teammates and has chemistry with them. He’s a solid player, considered top five in free-agent offensive guards in 2020.
Glasgow is also a player that won’t break the bank. Yes, the Lions have something north of $50 million in cap space to play with this year, after defensive tackle Damon Harrison is let go. But they have a lot of holes to fill, especially if they want to improve the defensive side of the ball where positions tend to require more money for a blue-chip player.
By plugging this hole on the offensive line, these Detroit Lions can start focusing on the talent available on the market to help the defensive line. They can take more time to evaluate free agent linebackers, cornerbacks and safeties. They would keep a solid player and free up their options for the side of the ball that sorely needs some attention.
Also, if they re-sign Glasgow, the Lions won’t have to worry about spending valuable draft capital on the offensive line, either. Some of those later round picks can be spent adding depth across the roster, which might include the offensive line. But it doesn’t have to. The team has more options and more possibilities if they make the signing before they are on the clock on draft day.
Finally, the grass isn’t always greener with a new player. We’ve seen Lions general manager Bob Quinn spend money on the offensive line. Injuries have forced players like T.J. Lang out of the lineup enough to minimize the effects of bringing him in. And just a couple years later, he’s off the roster.
Sure, Lang helped this team from a leadership perspective and helped teach the younger guys. But is that what this team needs right now? Not really. They just need a solid player in that position today. Glasgow is that player. Re-sign him and the Detroit Lions can shift their focus to other, more pressing areas of the roster.