Graham Glasgow came back to the Detroit Lions in 2023 free agency, with versatility as a calling card and the notion he could win a competition with Halapoulivaati Vaitai for the starting job at right guard. He indeed took over at right guard when Vaitai was injured, and all he did was tie for the eighth-highest grade among guards from Pro Football Focus last season (74.9). His run blocking grade (82.1) was fifth-best at the position.
Glasgow re-signed with the Lions immediately when the free agent negotiation window opened in March. He had no desire to leave, and the feeling was clearly mutual. He would surely settle in at right guard for the next few seasons, right?
When he discussed how the Lions would replace Jonah Jackson, Glasgow said "we'll figure it out." Kevin Zeitler, a right guard by trade over the course of 12 seasons, was signed to a one-year deal as the second week of free agency got going. So Glasgow was moving to left guard, where he last played a significant share of his snaps as a rookie and second-year man for the Lions in 2016 and 2017. He did start one game at left guard last season.
Graham Glasgow didn't think idea of position move was serious
Glasgow recently recalled, via Will Burchfield of 97.1 The Ticket, a call from Dan Campbell before free agency started.
"There's a possibility that we would want you to move to left guard", Campbell told Glasgow.
"I was like, 'Uh, let me talk to my agent,'" Glasgow said. "We talked for a bit and I called him back and asked, 'Are you just saying that knowing that you’re going to move me? Or is it really one of those situations where there's a small chance that it could happen?'"
Campbell told Glasgow moving him to left guard wasn't necessarily the plan, but in figuring out how to replace Jackson it was on the table. Glasgow said he thought it was a joke at the beginning, albeit not a very funny one, but he quickly moved to making the best of it.
Switching sides of the offensive line was once perfectly described by former NFL offensive lineman Artis Hicks, when he played for the Minnesota Vikings. Hicks told a reporter it's like writing with the hand you don't write with. Everything is opposite. The mental adjustment is one thing, and Glasgow spoke precisely to that physical adjustment.
"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. 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."
On Thursday, Zeitler lauded Glasgow as a "team guy" for his willingness to move to left guard. It's not surprising Glasgow has embraced the move, as the best offensive line in the NFL actually got better with the addition of Zeitler.