Graham Glasgow's loyalty to the Lions seems sure be tested on free agent market

At a low point in his career, after being a cap casualty by the Denver Broncos, Graham Glasgow was very glad to come back to the Detroit Lions last offseason.

"To play with Taylor, to play with Frank, it just came down to I wanted to be a part of that O-line room,” Glasgow said after signing. “I wanted to be back with my buddies. And I wanted to be a part of this team.”

Glasgow then went out and had one of the best seasons, if not the best season, of his career in 2023. He was Pro Football Focus eighth-ranked guard, making 13 of his 15 starts at right guard. As the team cleaned out their lockers after the NFC Championship Game loss, he (to his credit) spoke very frankly about his desires as he gets set to be a free agent.

"I would love to be back," Glasgow said. "I think I had a really good year, probably top one or two of my career. I would like to make more money than I did this year and I would assume the guys upstairs know and understand that. I feel like stuff like this kind of works. Hopefully, we'll be able to work through it."

Glasgow surrounded that comment about wanting to make more money with sentiment about wanting to be back with the Lions.

Free agent market stands to test any loyalty Graham Glasgow has to the Lions

In a piece with a ton of nuggets out of the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler (with a mention of Lions' guard Jonah Jackson) suggested the free agent market for guards could be booming.

"So many teams need them and have targeted the position, and Detroit’s Jonah Jackson, Miami’s Robert Hunt, New England’s Mike Onwenu, and the Los Angeles Rams' Kevin Dotson are among the top options,” Fowler wrote. “Don’t be surprised if some or all from this group command $16 million or more.”

Later in the same piece, Fowler included Glasgow on a list of sleeper free agents.

"Guard-needy teams that don't want to spend top dollar will still allot quality money to the next tier. Glasgow started 15 games for Detroit and held his own, and he can play all three interior OL positions..."

A high tide raises all ships. If the top free agent guards can get what Fowler suggested they can, "next tier" guys like Glasgow will get more too.

There's a strong case for the Lions to do whatever it takes to keep Glasgow around, especially since it looks like Jackson will be gone. But what if another team simply makes a better offer they don't match? He wouldn't be blamed for taking it.

If Glasgow wants to stay with the Lions above all else, he may take a little less money to stay. But it's fair to think that loyalty will be heavily tested if he hits the open market.