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Detroit Lions: 7 players who could be gone in 2018

By Zac Snyder

GREEN BAY, WI - SEPTEMBER 25: Head coach Jim Caldwell of the Detroit Lions shakes hands with Dwayne Washington #36 during warm-ups before a game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on September 25, 2016 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
GREEN BAY, WI - SEPTEMBER 25: Head coach Jim Caldwell of the Detroit Lions shakes hands with Dwayne Washington #36 during warm-ups before a game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on September 25, 2016 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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DETROIT, MI – OCTOBER 09: Quarterback Matthew Stafford #9 of the Detroit Lions calls the play behind teammate center Travis Swanson during an NFL game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Ford Field on October 9, 2016 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – OCTOBER 09: Quarterback Matthew Stafford #9 of the Detroit Lions calls the play behind teammate center Travis Swanson during an NFL game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Ford Field on October 9, 2016 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images) /

Travis Swanson

When the Lions drafted Graham Glasgow with a third-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft it was seen as a move to secure the team’s center of the future. Then Travis Swanson went out and was one of the bright surprises of the Lions’ 2016 season while Glasgow took over as the starting left guard replacing Laken Tomlinson. That may have put Glasgow on a ‘plan B’ but things look more back on course for ‘plan A’ as the 2017 winds down.

Swanson’s 2017 season hasn’t lived up to his solid 2016 and he’s once again missed time due to concussions. Glasgow has been an improvement starting in Swanson’s place (grading out as one of the NFL’s best centers in week 16 by Pro Football Focus), looking very much like the center of the future most thought Quinn had in mind when he made the pick.

It’s unfortunate that concussions seem to be a recurring issue for Swanson but the brutal truth is that his play hasn’t been up to par this season and his contract is set to expire with a Glasgow waiting in the wings.

The Lions could opt to draft a center to keep Glasgow at left guard but in either case, Swanson’s best chance to find a starting job in the NFL will be with another team.

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