The Detroit Lions will keep at least one of their starting guards in 2024.
The Lions and veteran offensive lineman Graham Glasgow agreed to a new three-year contract worth a maximum of $20 million before the start of the free agent negotiating period Monday. The deal, which is still being finalized, includes $9.5 million guaranteed.
Originally a third-round pick by the Lions in 2016, Glasgow returned to the team on a one-year deal last spring after spending the previous three seasons with the Denver Broncos. He started games at both guard spots and center last year and was one of the Lions’ most consistent linemen.
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Glasgow ranked second in the NFL in run block win rate among interior lineman in 2023, according to ESPN, and allowed four sacks last season according to the Free Press’ charting of plays.
“I can’t really say enough about Graham as a player,” Lions center Frank Ragnow said after the season. “One thing I don’t think people realize is his football IQ is as up there with anyone I’ve ever played. and for me being the center, to have someone like that right next to me has been a huge blessing. He sees things, he understands things, he sees the big picture and obviously he’s talented as a player, too.”
Glasgow said after the season he hoped to stay with the Lions in free agency, and that the team had expressed interest in him coming back.
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The Lions met with Glasgow’s representatives at the NFL combine and two sides hammered out the new deal late Sunday.
The team had 16 unrestricted free agents entering Monday’s negotiating window, including starting guards Glasgow and Jonah Jackson.
If the Lions were unable to re-sign Jackson, but they’ll return four-fifths of their starting offensive line for 2024. Left tackle Taylor Decker is entering the final year of his contract, center Frank Ragnow has three seasons left on the extension he signed in 2021, and Penei Sewell has one year left on his rookie deal plus a team option the Lions will exercise this spring, absent a long-term extension.
Sewell is in line for a contact that makes him the game’s highest-paid offensive tackle.
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Lions general manager Brad Holmes said at his end-of-season news conference in February that it was “extremely important” for the Lions to maintain one of the league’s best offensive lines going forward.
“That’s what our team is, is, I mean, our offensive line,” Holmes said. “Us being able to protect the quarterback and run the football like we do. That’s extremely important. And so, that’s definitely going to be one that – that’ll be an area that will not be overlooked. As good as it has been in the past, just those points that you’ve raised, it’s definitely going to be a point of emphasis still.”
Backup offensive tackles Dan Skipper and Matt Nelson also are free agents, while the Lions should return backups Colby Sorsdal and Kayode Awosika, an exclusive rights free agent.
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him@davebirkett.
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