After he was re-signed in 2024, here's what Graham Glasgow said about the Detroit Lions losing guard Jonah Jackson in free agency.
"I think we can still be really, really good," Glasgow said. "I think Jonah's an amazing player. He's very talented. He's a good guard. I just said this, 'I think the contract speaks for itself.' A lot of other teams also think that Jonah's really good. At the end of the day, it just comes down to, we're gonna work, we're gonna get after it and we'll figure it out."
Glasgow came back to the Lions in 2023, and he had the best season of his career, starting at right guard and registering a top-10 Pro Football Focus grade at the position. But one of his calling cards is versatility, with the ability to play all three interior offensive line positions, and the "we'll figure it out" comment made it sound like he would do whatever was asked. Even if it meant changing positions.
Alas, that is what happened, The Lions signed veteran right guard Kevin Zeitler to a one-year deal, and Glasgow moved to left guard to accommodate that move. Always candid when he speaks to reporters, earlier in last year's training camp Glasgow said he initially thought talk of moving him to left guard was a joke. He also talked about the physical adjustment he had to make.
"Outside of the stance and the footwork, I feel like if you’re used to having one leg be your post leg and one leg be your brace, it’s a lot harder to switch that, Glasgow said. "And the same thing with your arms: which hand is going to be the one that you’re primarily punching with in pass pro, which one is going to be your catch hand? It’s tough, but we’re getting there."
Glasgow then had a rough season at left guard. A knee injury cost him a game late in the season, and PFF ranked him No. 55 among 77 qualifying guards based on overall grade.
Graham Glasgow is glad to be back in his rightful place on the Lions' offensive line
When he came back to Detroit on a three-year deal in March of 2024, Glasgow recently told Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press he did so with a certain expectation.
"I'm like, ‘I’m re-signing with the intention on playing right guard,’” Glasgow said. “That's my preference. Like, I really want to play right guard over left guard. He's like, ‘But would you (play left guard) if we needed you to?” And I'm like, ‘Well, I guess I would. I guess.’ But I kept reemphasizing, ‘But I would really rather not.’ And then that ended up happening. It was interesting. It was a good learning experience, but I’m happy that I don't have to do it again.”
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By all accounts rookie Tate Ratledge is the No.1 option replace the retired Frank Ragnow at center, with Glasgow as the top fill-in option if necessary (as he been the last two seasons). Birkett had a note that confirms that.
"Glasgow said he spent time this offseason practicing at center in case the Lions need him to move positions this fall, but for now coaches have indicated he won’t be taking center snaps in practice."
Glasgow told Birkett he is "so much more happy at right guard" and "my body agrees more with (playing) right side than it did left.”
“I was trying to be a good guy about (switching positions last year)", Glasgow said. "I mean, you bring in somebody that just played right guard for 12 years, you kind of got to smile about it. ... But things are going good. I'm happy to be playing right guard.”
The Lions seem to be quickly figuring things out on the interior offensive line after Ragnow's retirement and Zeitler's departure in free agency. Glasgow will be back in his preferred spot at right guard barring something unforeseen, and the results of the last two years show that's where he's not only more comfortable, but more effective.