The Detroit Lions are in the midst of a dogfight in the NFC North entering Week 13. On Thanksgiving Day, they are slated to play the Green Bay Packers, with both teams fighting for playoff positioning. While all the attention is on the 2025 season, certain players won't be on the team down the line.
And center Graham Glasgow is one of those names. He's been with the Lions since 2023, but this season hasn't gone as expected. And with clear struggles across the interior offensive line this season, the center position could be due for an upgrade.
Glasgow Playing His Way Out of Detroit
In March 2024, the Lions and Glasgow agreed to terms on a three-year, $20 million deal, but just $8 million guaranteed. He's provided them with a player who could play multiple positions, which included moving over to center this season when Frank Ragnow retired.
He's started in all 11 games in 2025 but hasn't been as productive as many hoped. According to Pro Football Focus, he has a 59.3 overall grade (28th among 38 graded centers), 59.8 pass-blocking grade (22nd among 38 graded centers), and a 58.6 run-blocking grade (33rd among 38 graded centers). PFF doesn't always tell the full story, but it's not like he's passed the eye-test either.
Through 11 games, he has allowed 15 pressures and eight hits. It doesn't help that he has three games with sub-50 overall grades, with two of those happening in the last four weeks.
His first season returning to Detroit in 2023 was one of the best of his career, but the two years since have represented huge steps back. Just look at how his grades have evolved over his career:
- 2016 (DET): 53.0
- 2017 (DET): 70.6
- 2018 (DET): 71.1
- 2019 (DET): 74.1
- 2020 (DEN): 68.5
- 2021 (DEN): 65.1
- 2022 (DEN): 59.3
- 2023 (DET): 75.1
- 2024 (DET): 57.9
- 2025 (DET): 59.3
The Move Won't Be Difficult
If the Lions wanted to release Glasgow in the offseason, they would save $5.6 million in cap space (taking on $2.9 million in dead money but avoiding his $8.4 million cap hit). That money could immediately be reinvested into the position.
The list of potential starting centers set to become free agents in 2026 is a long one. Between Connor McGovern, Ted Karras, Ethan Pocic and Tyler Linderbaum, there are four options who have at least 60 NFL starts to their name.
The Lions also don't necessarily need an expensive free agent to reinforce the position. With Tate Ratledge already rounding into form and joining Penei Sewell as a staple up front, the Lions continue to show the ability to develop rookie offensive lineman.
The line should be the backbone of this offense, and Glasgow has sparked a concerning shift away from this strength.
His age, combined with his play and expiring contract, are some facts that could play a role in the Lions potentially moving on from Glasgow. The remainder of the season will be interesting to see if he can flip a switch, but if not, he could be out of town when the calendar flips over to 2026.