In 2023, Graham Glasgow returned to the Detroit Lions via free agency, bringing with him his flexibility and the belief that he might defeat Halapoulivaati Vaitai in a competition for the right guard starting position.
When Vaitai got hurt, he did actually take over at right guard, but all he accomplished last season was tie for ninth place among guards according to Pro Football Focus (74.9). His score of 82.1 for run blocking was the fifth best for the position.
As soon as the March free agency bargaining window opened, Glasgow re-signed with the Lions. It was obvious that he felt the same way and had no intention of leaving. For the next few seasons, he would undoubtedly become the starting right guard, right?
When asked how the Lions would replace Jonah Jackson, Glasgow responded, “We’ll figure it out.” In the second week of free agency, Kevin Zeitler, a right guard by trade over 12 seasons, was signed to a one-year contract. Glasgow was thus switching to left guard, where he last saw a good amount of action in 2016 and 2017 while a rookie and second-year player for the Lions. Last season, he did start one game as left guard.
Graham Glasgow did not believe the concept of changing positions was serious.
Glasgow recently recalled a call from Dan Campbell before to the start of free agency, via Will Burchfield of 97.1 The Ticket.
“There’s a chance we’d prefer you to switch to left guard,” Campbell informed Glasgow.
Glasgow recalled, “I was like, ‘Uh, let me talk to my agent.'” I phoned him back after we had a little conversation to find out whether he was simply saying that since he knew he was going to move me. Or is it actually one of those circumstances where there’s a remote possibility that it could occur?
Although switching him to left guard wasn’t exactly the plan, Campbell informed Glasgow that it was an option when determining how to replace Jackson. Glasgow claimed that at first, even though it wasn’t a particularly humorous joke, he thought it was a joke, but he soon realized how to make the most of it.
Former NFL offensive lineman Artis Hicks, of the Minnesota Vikings, once summarised switching sides of the offensive line precisely. It’s like writing with the hand you don’t write with, Hicks explained to a reporter. Everything is in opposition to each other. Glasgow addressed the physical transition specifically, pointing out that the mental adjustment is one thing.
“I feel like it’s more difficult to switch that if you’re used to having one leg be your brace and one leg be your post leg, aside from the posture and technique. The same is true for your arms: which hand will you use for your catch hand and which will be your main punching hand in pass pro? Though difficult, we are making progress.”
Zeitler praised Glasgow on Thursday, calling him a “team guy” for his readiness to switch to left guard. Glasgow’s acceptance of the move is hardly surprising, considering that Zeitler improved the NFL’s top offensive line.