The interior of the Lions offensive line could look a lot different next season. Graham Glasgow hopes it looks mostly the same.
Glasgow is one of two free agents for the Lions up front along with left guard Jonah Jackson, who might not be back on the other side of center Frank Ragnow. Jackson has the resume to attract a lucrative, long-term deal on the open market and the Lions have to budget for big-money extensions for the likes of Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Alim McNeill and others. Jackson, a Pro Bowler in 2021, could be left out by the math.
Glasgow will be looking for a raise himself after stepping in for injured right guard Halapoulivaati Vaitai and giving the Lions 15 sturdy starts, plus three more in the playoffs. Reliability has been the hallmark of Glasgow's career, which was a big reason the Lions brought him back last offseason on a one-year, $2.75 million deal worth up to $4.5 million in incentives.
Glasgow, an eight-year vet who turns 32 this summer, would like to stay in Detroit, where he enjoyed winning games and reuniting with old friends like Ragnow and left tackle Taylor Decker this season. And the Lions would like to keep him. Glasgow told reporters Monday that in his exit interview with the team, "They said, 'We'd like to have you back and we appreciate what you did this year.'"
"That's cool. I appreciate that," said Glasgow.
Of course, for both sides, the money has to be right: "They even said it, 'From here on out, it will just be us talking with your agent and seeing what we can do,'" Glasgow said.
Quietly, Glasgow was a key cog on one of the best offensive lines in the NFL this season. He ranked sixth overall at his position and fourth in run blocking, among guards who played at least 50 percent of their team's offensive snaps, per Pro Football Focus. His consistency helped power a rushing attack that ranked fifth in the NFL.
"I would love to be back," Glasgow said. "I think I had a really good year, probably top one or two of my career. I would like to make more money than I did this year and I would assume the guys upstairs know and understand that. I feel like stuff like this kind of works. Hopefully, we'll be able to work through it."
One teammate who would love to see Glasgow return is the Pro Bowl center next to him on the field and in the locker room.
"I can’t really say enough about Graham as a player," Ragnow said Monday. "One thing I don’t think people realize is his football IQ is up there with anyone I’ve ever played with. 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.
"So he’s been a huge, huge addition for us. And he’s just a great, hilarious guy, great for camaraderie too, right?"
Glasgow's first stint with the Lions ended in bitterness when former head coach Matt Patricia played him in an inexplicable rotation during his contract season and then former GM Bob Quinn declined to engage in any extension talks and let Glasgow walk on a four-year, $44 million deal to the Broncos. Here's betting his second stint continues into next season, so long as the price for both parties is right.
Ragnow, meanwhile, is looking forward to an offseason of rest and recovery after playing through toe, back, knee and ankle injuries this season. The toe was debilitating, and especially painful, even as Ragnow made the third Pro Bowl of his career and was named second-team All-Pro and helped the Lions reach the NFC championship game
"I think this year it’s going to take some time. I just need to be healthy. It takes a toll on you, it really takes a toll on you, so I need to find a way to get back to Frank," he said. "I don’t regret any of this at all, but it weighs on you and it’s just going to take some time to figure everything out to make sure that I’m feeling good, not only for me the football player but for me to be the best husband and the best father as well."
Ragnow, 27, and his wife welcomed their first child shortly before the start of the season.
Detroit's offensive line was the engine of a team that won a franchise-best 14 games and fell a game shy of the Super Bowl. Ragnow said the Lions' 34-31 loss to the 49ers in the NFC title game still stings -- "the plays were there to be made and we should’ve won that game," he said -- but over time he'll be able to appreciate what they achieved this season, including their first ever NFC North title and two thrilling playoff wins at Ford Field.
"I also think the biggest blessing might end up being the negative, the fact that that happened and hopefully we can manifest that, harness that and turn that into something special," he said.