Detroit Lions offensive lineman Graham Glasgow has always been one of the more open and honest players in the locker room, but in a respectable way—not the “I just tell it like it is—deal with it” type of way. That certain was true in a recent interview with the Detroit Free Press, where Glasgow spoke honestly about a development last year he wasn’t particularly thrilled about.
Glasgow opted to sign a three-year deal with Detroit last year, but it came with a request: he wanted to play right guard.
But when pressed by the team to at least be flexible with a move to the left, he acquiesced.
“I’m like, ‘I’m re-signing with the intention on playing right guard,’” Glasgow told Dave Birkett. “That’s my preference. Like, I really want to play right guard over left guard. He’s like, ‘But would you (play left guard) if we needed you to?” And I’m like, ‘Well, I guess I would. I guess.’ But I kept reemphasizing, ‘But I would really rather not.’”
As luck would have it, the Lions would end up signing Kevin Zeitler in free agency, and Glasgow shifted to the place he didn’t want to play: left guard.
What followed was one of the tougher years of Glasgow’s career. He had to play through a knee issue and other injuries he didn’t divulge. His play suffered on the field, allowing the most sacks (five) and second-most pressures (45) of his career, per PFF.
“It was interesting. It was a good learning experience, but I’m happy that I don’t have to do it again,” Glasgow said of his year at left guard.
He doesn’t have to do it again, because it appears his role for 2025 has been outline—and it matches more with what he’s comfortable with. Two days into Lions training camp, Glasgow has nearly exclusively repped at right guard, with rookie Tate Ratledge serving as the starting center, and Christian Mahogany at Glasgow’s 2024 spot at left guard. And it appears it’s going to stay that way for the foreseeable future. Here’s Birkett in the same piece:
Glasgow said he spent time this offseason practicing at center in case the Lions need him to move positions this fall, but for now coaches have indicated he won’t be taking center snaps in practice.
That said, coach Dan Campbell noted on Monday that while the current intention is to get Ratledge as many center snaps as they can, they can rest comfortably knowing that Glasgow can slide in at center.
“As I said before, we know Graham can slide right in right now and we don’t miss a beat,” Campbell said.
For now, Glasgow says he’s “much more happy at right guard,” and is optimistic about the new-look offensive line.
“I think Christian’s a good player,” Glasgow said. “I think Tate will pick things up quick. I think a lot of it comes down to how we communicate between ourselves.
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