Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes recently indicated that the team is not done enhancing their offensive line, with the possibility of adding a veteran player or draft pick in the coming weeks. Additionally, it seems the Lions are planning to experiment with the players already on their roster.
One clear change for the Lions in 2024 will be their starting lineup. After veteran right guard Kevin Zeitler signed with the Tennessee Titans, the Lions will need to fill that spot. While many believe that 2024 sixth-round pick Christian Mahogany has done enough in his rookie season to earn the starting role, Holmes clarified that they aren’t automatically handing him the job based solely on his two career starts.
“It’s a small sample size of the starts that he played,” Holmes said. “They were promising, they were encouraging. We do feel like he has starter-level ability, but he is still a young player, so we still need to make sure that he has competition.”
To provide that competition, the Lions brought back veteran players Kayode Awosika and Netane Muti, but further moves are expected. In the meantime, the team is exploring options with their current roster, particularly with last year’s starting left guard, Graham Glasgow.
Glasgow, 32, is in the second year of a three-year deal. While he had a strong season at right guard in 2023, he struggled when moved to left guard last year. Coach Dan Campbell confirmed that discussions about shifting Glasgow back to right guard are ongoing, though no decision has been made yet.
“I don’t know. That’s a thought, man. We’ve talked about that. Do you go back to right and is it Mahogany left? Is it somebody we drafted?” Campbell said. “You know, you’re gonna do your best to let these guys compete and see where they’re at.”
Another potential move could involve 2024 fourth-round pick Giovanni Manu, a developmental lineman from British Columbia. Though Manu took most of his practice reps at tackle last season, Campbell mentioned that the team is also considering giving him a shot at guard.
“Do we try Manu at guard? That’s a thought,” Campbell said. “So, we’re gonna try to let these guys compete a little bit and move them around and see what’s right, see where we’re at. But, you know, it’s not gonna be set in stone.”
Campbell acknowledged the risks of moving Manu to the interior but expressed interest in pushing him to grow in new roles.
“You’re gonna kind of take a leap of faith and push those reps and see if he can grow from them, you know? Do you do that or do you keep him outside?” Campbell said.
Regardless of where Glasgow plays, whether Mahogany secures the starting spot, or Manu enters the competition for an interior role, the Lions’ offensive line will see changes in 2024. How the team proceeds will likely depend on any further roster moves, such as free-agent signings or draft picks, to strengthen the position.
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