Graham Glasgow

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

The Lions landed a steal with Graham Glasgow at just $0.8M annually, earning an F CVI grade that reflects exceptional value rather than poor performance. While Glasgow's current production tier remains unclear, securing an experienced interior lineman at near-minimum salary represents shrewd roster construction for Detroit. At this price point, the Lions are essentially getting a proven NFL starter for backup money, creating tremendous upside with minimal financial risk. The short-term nature of this deal gives Detroit flexibility while Glasgow gets an opportunity to rebuild his market value after previous struggles. Even if Glasgow settles into a rotational role, this contract structure allows the Lions to allocate premium dollars elsewhere along their offensive line while maintaining solid depth. This is exactly the type of low-risk, high-reward move that championship-caliber front offices execute to maximize their salary cap efficiency.

Performance Analysis

Graham Glasgow receives the lowest possible F grade despite being a durable starter for the Lions throughout their recent resurgence. Across 66 games over 10 seasons, he has been a consistent presence on the interior offensive line — 15 games in 2025, 16 in 2024, and 17 in 2023 for Detroit. Interior linemen are notoriously difficult to evaluate from box scores alone, and Glasgow's grade suggests his performance has been below the standard of a team with Super Bowl aspirations. It is a bit surprising to see such a low grade for a player who has started consistently on one of the league's better offensive lines. Glasgow's continued employment with the Lions suggests they see more value in him than the grade indicates, but the numbers paint a harsh picture.

Fan Sentiment

Graham Glasgow's release from the Detroit Lions represents a textbook case of harsh salary cap realities trumping on-field production, earning him an F sentiment grade from our Contract Value Index (CVI) analysis. The media and fanbase universally viewed this as a pure cost-cutting move that unnecessarily weakened Detroit's offensive line depth, with Glasgow himself appearing blindsided by the decision based on his emotional farewell message. While fans appreciated his solid contributions as a serviceable veteran presence, the consensus was that the Lions prioritized financial flexibility over maintaining proven interior line depth. The move fits into Detroit's broader offensive line overhaul, but critics worry about the team's ability to replace Glasgow's reliability with cheaper alternatives. Most concerning for Detroit is the potential domino effect if injuries strike their starting unit, leaving them dangerously thin at a position where experience and continuity matter most.