I do think they invest heavily in the interior lines this upcoming draft… Manu is the future at LT… Mahogany is a future starting guard… Beyond that, we don’t know how long Frank will play and GG/Zeitler are in their 30s. I’d love a G/C combo player and pick 32 is a great place to snag that player… Unfortunately there isn’t one in this upcoming draft I do expect them to grab a guard later though.
On the defense, Reader is only signed for another year and Alim will likely start next season on the PUP… DT is the biggest need for this team IMO.
GG has struggled a bit this year but that’s a tough block in space for a guard coming off an ankle injury on a very talented edge player. A lot of guards aint making that block on Greenard. He’s real good.
I know things can change, but I remmeber Manu telling the media back in OTAs that the coaches envision his long term position to be RG next to Sewell.
“They’ve asked me where do I feel comfortable playing and I told them left side. That’s legit where I’ve always been playing my whole collegiate career, I’ve told them. But they’ve opened up to me and told me if I’m willing to play on the right side, because I feel like they want me playing next to Penei Sewell, is what they’ve kinda hinted at. I told them I would be open to it. They told me—it sounded like that’s where they’re going to put me at coming into rookie minicamp. I think they’re just going to rep me at the right side so I can get comfortable at it. It’s going to be a challenge for sure, but it’s something that I’m looking forward to do(ing).”
“I think the goal is he wants me playing on the right side, so that’s a bit of an adjustment since I’ve normally played on the left side. But I think their vision is they want me playing right guard next to Penei Sewell, which is an outstanding right tackle. If I could earn that spot and be right next to Penei Sewell, I think it would be the scariest right side in the NFL.”
As far as Glasgow is concerned, he has been fairly average this season. With that said, he is being paid like a serviceable starter, top notch back-up, so thats alright.
Next year he is due 6mil in base salary and roser bonuses. If we cut him, we only save a little over 2mil. I expect him back, competing with Mahogany to start. I think Zietler is back for another year at RG. I think Mahogany eventually wins the job and we have a 6mil AAV back-up on the interior that can give you starter level snaps at LG/C/RG. To me that is still a very valuable role and well worth that cost.
There haven’t been many 6’7" OGs in the NFL. The Lions had at least three guys (Mike Utley [RG], Dave Lutz [RG], and Mike Compton[LG]), who were all 6’6" and played OG. But, tall guys that tall at OG who are successful are pretty rare.
Nightmare to block the shorter DT’s for tall interior olinemen. Almost impossible to win the leverage battle. It’s a main reason Oliver gives Ragnow fits. Watching Kancey with the Bucs too. Taller guys have no chance.
Given the state of the roster, this seems like a spot where they could take a risk on an injury guy or a developmental guy with 2026 in mind.
Also, Sorsdal still has an opportunity this coming training camp to prove he can be the backup interior lineman. I’m pretty sure the tackle experiment is fully over there.
Could be because of the lack of depth at tackle. It got him more reps in practice as well. I would be surprised if they changed their long term plans so quickly, but you never know.
Seth Mclaughlin comes to mind, tore his Achilles in November… Probably would’ve been the first center off the board if not for that. Also fits the profile of playing for elite colleges (Alabama 3 years and OSU 1 year)
He’s much better on the right side, which is why I (wrongly) believed we had no intention to move him to LG before the season. He was just as bad there last year as he was this year. Once we added Zeitler, I figured Glasgow was being moved into the backup C/RG role, or at the very least into a competition with Mahogany and Awosika for LG. Of course maybe Mahogany’s illness changed those plans.
Sewell plays a big role in that too. Zeitler is a solid pro but having the best season of his career in his mid 30’s. Why? Playing beside the best right tackle in the nfl helps a ton!
He’s graded slightly below average by pff (57.9 with 60 being average), which is where I believe you’re getting your stats from. I’d be curious where he’d rank amongst guards with more than a couple starts… Comparing a player with over 1000 snaps vs a player with 100 is unfair IMO. I’m not saying he can’t be upgraded, but he’s not “far below average” IMO. He’s also a very healthy player, which needs to be factored in as well, only missing a couple games the last 2 years.
That’s not what the contract they gave him indicated… GG is a starter in the eyes of this staff and FO… Him taking his position back after missing a game and Mahogany playing well in his stead reinforces that sentiment… This staff does believe in competition though and I fully expect Mahogany to push him for the starting LG role next season.
I do expect them to grab a guard later though.