Graham Glasgow

Lions To Sign G Kevin Zeitler

March 19th, 2024 at 3:52pm CST by Ben Levine

MARCH 19: Zeitler agreed to a one-year, $6MM deal, The33rdTeam.com’s Ari Meirov tweets. Although the Ravens had begun discussions with Zeitler about a return for a fourth Baltimore season, the veteran guard is headed to Detroit. Following Jackson’s Rams defection, Zeitler and Glasgow will form an affordable tandem — comprised of two 30-somethings — at the position.

MARCH 18: The Lions have found their replacement for Jonah Jackson. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Lions are signing veteran guard Kevin Zeitler.

The lineman will be inking a one-year deal with Detroit. Zeitler is flying to Detroit tonight to take his physical before officially signing with the Lions tomorrow.

The 12-year veteran earned his first career Pro Bowl nod in 2023 after starting 15 games for Baltimore. He graded out as Pro Football Focus’ 15th-best offensive guard last season, with Zeitler earning the second-highest grade at his position for pass blocking.

The 34-year-old is coming off a three-year stint with the Ravens that saw him start all 47 of his appearances. The former first-round pick spent the first five seasons of his career with the Bengals before his two-year stints with the Browns and Giants.

The Lions re-signed right guard Graham Glasgow last week, but Justin Rogers of The Detroit News believes Glasgow will likely shift to the left side of the line following Zeitler’s addition. After losing Jackson to the Rams, the Lions have been seeking a fifth starting lineman to play besides Glasgow, center Frank Ragnow, and tackles Penei Sewell and Taylor Decker.

As ESPN’s Jamison Hensley notes, Zeitler marks the 10th player the Ravens have lost via free agency. That grouping includes fellow OL John Simpson who signed with the Jets, and the Ravens also dealt Morgan Moses to New York, meaning Baltimore will be eyeing a new-look offensive line grouping in 2024.

Lions To Re-Sign G Graham Glasgow

March 11th, 2024 at 8:10am CST by Adam La Rose

Graham Glasgow‘s second Lions stint will not be a one-year endeavor. The veteran guard has agreed to a three-year, $20MM deal to remain in Detroit, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The pact includes $9.5MM in guaranteed money.

After playing out his rookie contract with Detroit, Glasgow landed a four-year, $44MM deal with the Broncos in 2020. He was released last offseason, however, paving the way for another free agent venture. That led the 31-year-old back to the Motor City on a one-year, $2.75MM pact. That low-cost addition proved to be critical from the team’s perspective.

Glasgow was initially brought back as a utility option along the interior, but injuries early in the season led to him seeing time at center as well as both guard positions. He ultimately locked down a spot as Detroit’s right guard starter, and he delivered a strong performance at that spot. The Michigan product graded out as PFF’s eighth-best guard in 2023, excelling in run blocking in particular.

He has now been rewarded with another multi-year pact, one which Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press notes came together last night. Glasgow will no doubt be expected to remain a first-team contributor on Detroit’s O-line moving forward, especially considering the departures which could be seen for the unit. Pro Bowl left guard Jonah Jackson‘s rookie contract is up, and he is positioned as one of the best interior lineman in the 2024 free agent class. If Jackson were to depart, Glasgow would offer welcomed stability along with the flexibility to replace him at the LG spot if needed.

The Lions entered Monday with over $45MM in cap space. That figure will drop to an extent once this Glasgow deal is finalized. Detroit will have plenty of spending power for other additions, but Jackson is one of several in-house contributors in need of a new contract or a lucrative extension. As the team looks to build off last season’s run to the NFC title game, though, stability along the O-line will be available with Glasgow still on the books.

NFC North Notes: Lions, Bears, Poles, Gary

November 9th, 2023 at 4:43pm CST by Sam Robinson

Graham Glasgow became a cap casualty this offseason, seeing the now-Sean Payton-run Broncos dump his four-year, $44MM contract. The veteran interior lineman had taken a pay cut in 2022, after losing his job (to Quinn Meinerz) following an injury absence. Glasgow returned to the Lions, who had drafted him in 2016, on a one-year deal worth $2.75MM deal. Given backup money, Glasgow indeed began the season as a utility man. But the Lions have needed to use the eighth-year veteran at three positions this season, with injuries sidelining Jonah Jackson, Frank Ragnow and Halapoulivaati Vaitai. Glasgow has done enough to remain a starter when the unit is at full strength, Dan Campbell said (via the Detroit Free Press’ Dave Birkett).

Glasgow, 30, has started the past six games and done so at left guard, right guard and center. Moving forward, Glasgow will be Detroit’s RG starter. Vaitai won that job out of training camp but needed time off after an early-season injury. While Vaitai is back after knee and back maladies, the 2020 free agency pickup has not showed top form upon returning. Pro Football Focus grades Glasgow as the No. 5 overall guard. The former third-round pick now has the opportunity to use this season to fetch a nice contract in free agency once again, though the Lions could also have interest in retaining him. The team removed a year from Vaitai’s contract, amid a pay cut that followed his missed 2022, and has Jackson in a contract year. The Lions have some questions at guard moving forward.

Here is the latest from the NFC North:

Although the Bears have since extended Montez Sweat, executives took issue with GM Ryan Poles‘ pre-deadline strategy. One anonymous GM said (via the Washington Post’s Jason La Canfora) the move of indicating Jaylon Johnson was available barely 12 hours before the deadline did not give teams enough time to gauge his trade value, assess the player’s future or negotiate a contract. A report indicating the Bears would let Johnson’s camp seek a trade — after Bears extension talks were not progressing — came out just after midnight CT on Oct. 31. The Bears ended up keeping Johnson, and Poles has said the team wants to keep the contract-year cornerback. No team has franchise-tagged a corner since the Rams cuffed Trumaine Johnson in 2017, but Chicago does have the tag available with Sweat signed days after that trade.
The Bears obtained Sweat from the Commanders for a second-round pick. The above-referenced GM said the Falcons were on track to land Sweat for a third-round pick before Poles put the Bears’ second-rounder on the table. Atlanta is believed to have increased its offer twice in response. Another anonymous GM told La Canfora the Bears should have been selling at the deadline. While execs did not agree with the Bears giving up a pick likely to land in the 30s for Sweat, the team proceeded this way for Chase Claypool last year and now has an upper-echelon edge defender signed long term.
Weeks after seeing DC Alan Williams step away, the Bears fired running backs coach David Walker, per The Athletic’s Kevin Fishbain and Adam Jahns. Workplace behavior led to Walker’s dismissal, ESPN.com’s Courtney Cronin adds. The Bears’ HR department had previously disciplined Walker, according to Cronin, with the second infraction leading to the firing. Matt Eberflus hired Walker, 53, last year. HR was also involved in Williams’ exit; the two matters are unrelated. Omar Young is now coaching Chicago’s RBs.
Rashan Gary‘s four-year, $96MM Packers extension calls for a $34.6MM signing bonus, which represents the fifth-year outside linebacker’s guarantee. Additionally, Gary will collect a $6.2MM roster bonus on Day 3 of the 2024 league year, according to OverTheCap. On Day 3 of the 2025 league year, Gary will earn an $8.7MM roster bonus.
The Lions bumped linebacker Trevor Nowaske up to their active roster due to another team’s effort to poach him off the practice squad, Campbell said. A rookie UDFA out of Saginaw Valley State (Mich.), Nowaske joined Detroit’s active roster last week.

Latest On Lions’ RG Competition

August 20th, 2023 at 11:58am CST by Rory Parks

The Lions’ offensive line was a key to their suprising success in 2022, and the club will return four-fifths of its starting front from last season. The only OL spot up for grabs is at right guard, and the battle between Graham Glasgow and Halapoulivaati Vaitai for that job is a close one.

Per Justin Rogers of the Detroit News, Vaitai entered training camp as the betting favorite for the post, which he manned from 2020-21 after signing a lucrative free agent contract with the Lions in March 2020. He struggled a bit in his first season in the Motor City, a campaign that was tainted to some degree by injury, but he rebounded with a strong 15-game performance in 2021. Unfortunately, he was forced to undergo back surgery last September, which caused him to miss the entire 2022 slate and to even consider retirement.

While Vaitai elected to resume his playing career, he did have to take a pay cut to remain on the roster. Meanwhile, Detroit reunited with Glasgow and allowed Evan Brown, who served as Vaitai’s primary replacement last year, to depart in free agency. Glasgow, a former third-round pick of the Lions, spent the last three seasons with the Broncos, and he will provide experienced insurance at both guard positions and at center in the event he does not win the right guard gig.

As Rogers notes, Vaitai was absent for a brief time in this year’s camp due to injury, and since then, he and Glasgow have largely split first-team reps at RG. Glasgow’s efforts in this positional battle have been compromised a bit by the fact that he has to step in for starting pivot Frank Ragnow whenever Ragnow needs time off, but he believes he has acquitted himself well just the same.

“I was saying earlier, I think if you can play center, you can play guard,” he said. “I would like to get more guard reps, but at the end of the day, it’s just the price of doing business.”

Both players have plenty of financial motivation. After being released by Denver three years into a four-year, $44MM contract, Glasgow is due just $1.5MM in base pay on his one-year pact this season (though he can earn up to $4.5MM). And Vaitai, as part of the above-referenced pay cut, agreed to remove the 2024 season from his contract, which means he, like Glasgow, will be eligible for free agency next year.

Lions OL Halapoulivaati Vaitai Agrees To Pay Cut, Removes 2024 Season From Deal

March 23rd, 2023 at 10:06am CST by Sam Robinson

Although the Lions featured one of the NFL’s better offensive lines last season, they were missing one of their starters throughout. Rather than make Halapoulivaati Vaitai a cap casualty, the team will see if the former starter can contribute in 2023.

The Lions reached a pay-cut agreement with Vaitai, Justin Rogers of the Detroit News tweets. Vaitai has also agreed to trim the 2024 season off his contract, making him a free agent after this coming year. Vaitai was attached to a five-year, $45MM deal — one signed in 2020 — but after he missed all of last season, he agreed to a reduction that will create cap space for the Lions.

Vaitai’s base salary will drop from $9.4MM to $3MM in 2023, per OverTheCap, with 2024 now being a void year. Vaitai’s 2023 cap hit will be reduced from $12.45MM to $5.1MM. As of Thursday morning, the Lions hold $26.1MM in cap space — third-most in the NFL. The void component here would add $3.8MM in dead money onto Detroit’s 2024 cap if Vaitai is not re-signed before the 2024 league year.

A September back surgery sidelined Vaitai last year, leading Evan Brown to replace him as the Lions’ primary right guard. Vaitai, 29, had worked as Detroit’s starter there from 2020-21, having come over from Philadelphia. Brown, who was Frank Ragnow‘s injury replacement in 2021, has since signed with the Seahawks. The Lions, however, have brought back Graham Glasgow as a potential guard option.

Formerly an Eagles tackle fill-in, Vaitai collected $20MM guaranteed as part of his 2020 agreement. He already reworked that deal in 2021 to create cap space. The Lions will see if they can get more out of that deal, and rather than refuse a pay cut and head into free agency coming off an injury-erased season, Vaitai will aim to return to form in Detroit. The Lions still have all five of their O-line starters in place from 2021, with Ragnow, Taylor Decker, Jonah Jackson and Penei Sewell under contract.

Glasgow’s cap figure will check in at $2.68MM, Rogers adds (on Twitter). The Lions also used a void year to finalize this reunion, though only $1.47MM would accelerate onto Detroit’s 2024 cap were Glasgow not re-signed before the start of the next league year. Glasgow, 30, wanted to return to Detroit but said (via Rogers) the 49ers and Panthers showed interest as well. The 49ers have since added Jon Feliciano as an interior swingman. Glasgow could wind up with a bigger role in Detroit, looking like the top replacement for Vaitai. Should Vaitai be unable to return to full strength, Glasgow has a clear path to becoming a Lions starter again.

OL Graham Glasgow To Return To Lions

March 16th, 2023 at 1:43pm CST by Sam Robinson

Three years after losing Graham Glasgow in free agency, the Lions intend to bring him back. The veteran interior offensive lineman is signing with his former team Thursday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.

The Lions drafted Glasgow in the 2016 third round but lost him to the Broncos’ four-year, $44MM deal in 2020. Detroit is planning to sign Glasgow to a one-year deal worth up to $4.5MM. The Broncos made Glasgow a cap casualty late last week.

Detroit features one of the league’s better O-lines this time around. Ex-Glasgow teammates Taylor Decker and Frank Ragnow remain in place, while 2020 third-rounder Jonah Jackson joins them as a locked-in starter. Penei Sewell is also a cornerstone piece up front for Detroit. Evan Brown, who has played both guard and center, is a free agent. And Halapoulivaati Vaitai missed most of last season, clouding his future with the team.

This contract would point to Glasgow reprising the role he began last season with: inside swingman. The Broncos used Glasgow as a Week 1 starter in 2021 and ’22, but Quinn Meinerz — Glasgow’s 2021 injury replacement — kept Denver’s first-string right guard gig this year. Glasgow, however, saw extensive run in replacing both Meinerz and center Lloyd Cushenberry. Glasgow, 30, ended up starting 13 games for the Broncos last season. Pro Football Focus rated Glasgow as the No. 27 overall center last season

In Detroit, Glasgow worked as a four-year starter. The Lions mostly used him at guard but played him at center during stretches of his rookie-contract run as well. The Lions can save $6.5MM by releasing Vaitai, who missed all of last season due to injury. That number rises a bit if Vaitai is designated as a post-June 1 cut.

Glasgow started 58 games for the Lions from 2016-19, creating a nice market. After the Broncos shed that deal from their payroll ahead of its final year, the Michigan alum will try and carve out a spot for his first NFL team.

Broncos To Release OL Graham Glasgow

March 10th, 2023 at 3:31pm CST by Sam Robinson

In another sign indicating the Broncos might be readying for an active free agency period, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo tweets the team is releasing veteran interior offensive lineman Graham Glasgow.

Glasgow filled in at both guard and center for the team last season, though he was initially given an eight-figure-per-year deal to be a starter back in 2020. Ahead of that contract’s final year, the Broncos are removing it from their cap sheet. This move will save the team $11MM. The Broncos have cut Glasgow, Ronald Darby and Chase Edmonds on Friday afternoon. Between these cuts, the team will create more than $26MM in cap space.

Denver signed Glasgow back in 2020, adding that contract to their payroll after moving Ronald Leary‘s off it. Glasgow signed a four-year, $44MM deal with the Broncos, joining the team during John Elway‘s last offseason as GM. The team used Glasgow as a starter for two seasons, but an injury midway through the 2021 campaign moved third-round pick Quinn Meinerz into the starting lineup. Meinerz won a competition with Glasgow to keep the first-string guard job opposite Dalton Risner.

The Broncos reached a pay-cut agreement with Glasgow for the 2022 season, dropping the veteran’s cap number to $6.1MM. It was set to climb to $14MM this year, making the seven-year veteran a cut candidate. Glasgow, 30, filled in for Meinerz early this season but mostly worked as a center, replacing an injured Lloyd Cushenberry for most of the slate’s second half. Glasgow started 13 games for the Broncos in 2022, but the team still has Cushenberry under contract.

This offseason could lead Risner off the roster as well. The Broncos are not planning to keep the Colorado native off the market, creating a need at left guard to go with the team’s evergreen vacancy at right tackle. GM George Paton confirmed the Broncos will look to upgrade their O-line this offseason. With Risner perhaps departing and Cushenberry’s starter status unknown, the team could be looking to bring in three new starters.

AFC West Notes: Waller, Chiefs, Broncos

March 3rd, 2023 at 10:39am CST by Sam Robinson

Darren Waller came up in trade talks last year, generating Packers interest ahead of the deadline, and the veteran tight end missed a big chunk of the Raiders‘ season due to a nagging hamstring injury that may or may not have irked some with the team. This came after the Raiders reached a three-year, $51MM extension with the former Pro Bowler just before the season. Despite Waller’s disappointing slate and the team moving on from Derek Carr, Jeff Howe of The Athletic notes the Silver and Black are not looking to move on from the talented tight end (subscription required).

Waller’s $12MM cap number checks in considerably lower than Chandler Jones‘ ($19.3MM), but Howe adds the latter is also unlikely to be moved. The Raiders did not receive what they had hoped from Jones, who totaled just 4.5 sacks and seven QB hits in his Las Vegas debut. The Raiders would save $9MM-plus by trading Jones, 33, but the ex-Cardinals All-Pro’s trade value may not be especially high right now. Jones still has $16MM in guarantees remaining on his three-year, $51MM deal.

Here is the latest from the AFC West:

The Chiefs had once eyed Mike Kafka to succeed Eric Bieniemy as OC, per SI.com’s Albert Breer, but they had envisioned the latter landing a head coaching job. Bieniemy famously failed to do so and ended up leaving for a play-calling role in Washington after five years. This proved too long for Kafka to wait; he is now the Giants’ play-caller and joined this year’s HC carousel. Benefiting from the past two offseasons’ events, Matt Nagy replaced Kafka as QBs coach and has since replaced Bieniemy. Nagy’s Bears HC shortcomings notwithstanding, Breer adds he is seen as a possible Andy Reid heir apparent in Kansas City. Reid shot down retirement rumors after Super Bowl LVII, but the future Hall of Famer will turn 65 this month and is going into his 25th season as a head coach.
Graham Glasgow, Ronald Darby and Chase Edmonds loom as cut candidates for the Broncos, who have some needs to fill in free agency. It is possible the Broncos release all three, Troy Renck of Denver7 tweets. Denver restructured Glasgow’s contract in 2022 and saw him become needed after injuries to guard Quinn Meinerz and center Lloyd Cushenberry. But the team can save $11MM by releasing Glasgow. The team can add $9.6MM by cutting Darby, who suffered a torn ACL in October. Rookie Damarri Mathis fared decently replacing the veteran opposite Patrick Surtain II. The Broncos picked up Edmonds at the deadline from the Dolphins; they can save $5.9MM by releasing the ex-Cardinals starter. Denver should be able to add a veteran for cheaper, given this year’s crowded running back market, and Sean Payton favorite Latavius Murray is likely a candidate to be re-signed.
For what it’s worth, Russell Wilson‘s office is no longer in use. The space that drew considerable attention as the former Seahawks star struggled in Denver has been cleaned out, Mike Klis of 9News notes. While Broncos players did not necessarily voice issues about Wilson’s office, it attracted scrutiny during a 5-12 season. Wilson previously agreed to stop using it during the season’s final two weeks.
Kyle Van Noy wants to stay with the Chargers, per The Athletic’s Daniel Popper, who notes the versatile linebacker should have a chance to return. The Bolts signed Van Noy to a low-cost deal late in the 2022 offseason. His role expanded after Joey Bosa‘s groin injury, and the 13-game starter hit the five-sack mark for the fifth time in the past six seasons. Conversely, Morgan Fox will probably depart in free agency, Popper adds. Fox registered 6.5 sacks and likely will price himself out of Los Angeles, as the Bolts want to re-sign right tackle Trey Pipkins and linebacker Drue Tranquill.
Mecole Hardman recently underwent groin surgery, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. The November injury kept the contract-year wide receiver out of Super Bowl LVII. Hardman will attempt to get healthy ahead of a free agency bid, with Howe adding he will need around two months to recover (Twitter link). The Chiefs have Hardman and JuJu Smith-Schuster set to hit the market. Mutual interest exists between the Chiefs and Smith-Schuster.

Broncos CB K’Waun Williams To Undergo Surgery; T Billy Turner Suffers Knee Injury

November 14th, 2022 at 6:11pm CST by Sam Robinson

Starters continue to disappear from the Broncos’ equation. The team’s struggling offense and its top-performing defense, respectively, will lose a player apiece. K’Waun Williams and Billy Turner are set to miss time.

Williams, who has operated as Denver’s slot cornerback since being signed in March, is slated for arthroscopic knee surgery, Mike Klis of 9News tweets. The ninth-year veteran will miss at least four weeks, making him an IR candidate. The team’s preferred option at right tackle, Turner reinjured the knee that sidelined him for much of training camp and the Broncos’ early-season action. While Nathaniel Hackett called Turner week-to-week, a Russell Wilson Instagram post would seem to indicate a much longer absence could be on tap.

The Broncos finished Sunday’s game without Turner and center Graham Glasgow, who is being called day-to-day with a shoulder injury. That forced in third-string center Luke Wattenberg, a fifth-round rookie, and third-string right tackle Quinn Bailey. Denver has not activated Tom Compton, who was set to vie for the starting right tackle gig with Turner in camp, from its PUP list yet. The team has also lost left tackle Garett Bolles for the season and has center Lloyd Cushenberry on IR. Left with starting guards and a various third-stringers at the other O-line positions by game’s end, the Broncos allowed a staggering 18 quarterback hits in their loss to the Titans.

Turner initially created a market for himself by blocking for the first of Phillip Lindsay‘s two 1,000-yard seasons in 2018. The Packers invested in the former third-round Dolphins draftee. Turner played both guard and tackle during that 2018 platform season and signed a four-year, $28MM deal with the Packers, who also used him at tackle and guard. Green Bay cut Turner this offseason, but he followed Hackett to Denver via one-year, $2.5MM contract. Turner, 31, has played in four games and started three in his second tour of duty with the Broncos.

Denver, which has used a different Week 1 right tackle starter in each of the past 10 seasons, has seen injuries foil its latest plan at the position. The Broncos have until Wednesday to activate Compton; otherwise, the veteran blocker cannot play in 2022. Compton is also on a one-year deal (worth $2.25MM). Bailey, 27, has been with the Broncos since 2019 but has only logged 90 career offensive snaps. Right tackle stands to be a need yet again for the Broncos come 2023.

Williams, 31, joined Patrick Surtain II and Ronald Darby in forming the Broncos’ top corner trio. But Darby is out for the season. The Broncos will likely turn to former UDFA Essang Bassey at the slot spot, Klis adds. The 49ers’ slot corner for the past five seasons, Williams has not missed any time since signing with the Broncos. Pro Football Focus rates the veteran defender just outside the top 30 among corners.

The Broncos have five IR activations remaining. Cushenberry and Randy Gregory are positioned to return this year. Safety Caden Sterns and running back Mike Boone may as well. As the injuries pile up for the disappointing team, Williams could soon factor into this IR-return picture as well.

Broncos WR Jerry Jeudy Suffers Ankle Injury

November 14th, 2022 at 1:54pm CST by Ely Allen

NOVEMBER 14: An MRI confirmed on Monday that Jeudy did indeed only suffer a mild ankle injury, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (video link). His availability for this week remains up in the air, but the news represents a very positive development for the Broncos.

NOVEMBER 13: Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy left today’s loss to the Titans with an ankle injury that kept him out for the rest of the game. After evaluating the injury further, Denver believes the injury is not his Achilles tendon, which would be the worst-case scenario for the 23-year-old, according to Mike Klis of 9NEWS.

Jeudy missed seven games last year, including six straight due to a high ankle sprain. He’s come back strong during his third year in the league, not missing a single start so far this year. That streak may be in question following today’s injury, though. It will be good news if the team can confirm that his Achilles is fine, but an injury that was serious enough to hold him out of the rest of the game will be tough to come back from quickly.

With slot receiver KJ Hamler dealing with a hamstring injury and Tim Patrick still on injured reserve with a season-ending ACL tear, the Broncos can hardly afford to lose Jeudy. With Jeudy on the sideline, Denver relied on Kendall Hinton, Tyrie Cleveland, rookie fifth-round pick Montrell Washington, and undrafted rookie Jalen Virgil to step up alongside the team’s only remaining starting wideout, Courtland Sutton. Virgil and Hinton found some success today against Tennessee but relying on them for multiple weeks is a lot to ask for an offense that has already struggled throughout the season.

The team is also piling up injuries at center. Graham Glasgow, who was already filling for Lloyd Cushenberry after the starting center was placed on IR, left today’s game and did not return, according to Klis. Denver brought in rookie fifth-round pick Luke Wattenberg to fill in for Glasgow and will likely ask him to start if Glasgow needs more time to recover.

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