4 Detroit Lions players who could be cut before playing a snap for the team in 2023
2. OG Graham Glasgow
As much as Glasgow was an interesting and somewhat notable free agent addition for the Lions, in a return to the team that drafted him, his 2022 season with the Denver Broncos was a rough one. Credit to Jeff Risdon of Lions Wire for this one, and it can definitely be made to make sense.
Here's what Risdon wrote about the prospect Glasgow could be cut.
"Wait, what?! Glasgow just got back to Detroit as a free agent. No way they’d cut him!
- Jeff Risdon, Lions Wire
Well…
The Broncos parted ways with Glasgow after a largely miserable 2022 campaign as their starting center for most of the year after beginning as the starting right guard. Glasgow allowed a league-high (tied) five sacks, was guilty of 10 penalties (3rd-most) and finished in the bottom 10 in both pass blocking and run blocking grades from PFF for regular starting centers.
The gruesome ankle injury he suffered in 2021 definitely impacted Glasgow in 2022. If he’s not better, Glasgow might not beat out Ross Pierschbacher as the backup center or fifth-round rookie Colby Sorsdal (among others) as the top reserve guard. It’s not a given that he does — think of Breshad Perriman back in 2021."
This scenario feels unlikely. But if Halapoulivaati Vaitai beats Glasgow out for the starting job at right guard, that could start a domino effect that leads to him being completely off the Lions' roster before Week 1.
Ross Pierschbacher shouldn't be hard to beat out to be Frank Ragnow's backup, but it's not out of the question for it not to happen. Rookie Colby Sorsdal may make a strong case to be the top reserve guard over Glasgow. Then he becomes a veteran without a role that matters very much, and maybe he even asks for his release if those things happen.
In a perfect world, Glasgow comes in and beats Vaitai out to be the Lions' starting right guard. But the NFL is not a perfect world.