Sipu Jha
When Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport released one player every NFL team could target in 2026 free agency, the analyst picked Detroit Lions center Graham Glasgow for the Minnesota Vikings. The Justin Jefferson’s franchise shocked everyone this offseason when they signed Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray for a summer-long starter battle with J.J. McCarthy. But this blow was not all. The spot before the quarterback [the one who throws/snaps the ball], the “center” position, was also affected. The 32-year-old center Ryan Kelly announced his retirement via X on March 6. Leaving his spot open for other centers to apply. That’s where Davenport linked Detroit’s Graham Glasgow to Minnesota.
NFL Trade Rumors : Justin Jefferson’s Minnesota tied to Detroit center Graham Glasgow
Davenport further reports that the Vikings’ top center, Blake Brandel, has not played 400 snaps at his position over five years. Contrastingly, Glasgow played almost 900 snaps at center for the Lions just last year. The versatile interior offensive lineman has played all three interior positions: center, right guard, and left guard, throughout his career with Detroit and Denver. At 33, his best football may be behind him, but he started 14 games for Jared Goff’s Lions just last year. His PFF pass-blocking grade is 61.3, which ranks him 26th best among 40 qualified centers. He played 873 offensive snaps. He allowed 19 total pressures in pass protection, which includes 1 sack and 8 hits allowed to opposing pass rushers. And he was flagged for two penalties in 2025. Now, Glasgow wrote a farewell letter to his long-time franchise [Detroit Lions] on March 2; four days later, Kelly announced his retirement. This could be their “take over my spot” connection. Anyhow, the veteran has been on the market for weeks now. He has gone unnoticed by several franchises. But analysts are still linking him to the Vikings.
Remaining free agent OLs are James Daniels, Ethan Pocic, and Graham Glasgow
Sports Illustrated’s Joe Nelson reported a few weeks back that Minnesota needs to find a starting center, especially after Kelly’s retirement. Back then, five centers were available for the Vikings, but now the landscape has changed, and only three are available on the free-agent market.Tennessee Titans center Lloyd Cushenberry signed with the Josh Allen-led Buffalo Bills. And Arizona Cardinals guard Evan Brown, who shared familiarity with Vikings QB Kyler Murray, signed with the CJ Stroud-led Houston Texans. The three remaining ones are: Cleveland Browns center Ethan Pocic, Miami Dolphins guard James Daniels, and Detroit Lions center Graham Glasgow.
Lions center could play alongside Vikings OLs Blake Brandel and Michael Jurgens
Nelson predicted that Minnesota could offer a starting center job to 29-year-old Blake Brandel or 26-year-old Michael Jurgens. However, with the team recently linked to Glasgow, it becomes crucial to compare their stats.Brandel had a 2025 overall PFF grade of 61.4, Jurgens 54.2, and Glasgow 56.8. In pass block grade, both Jurgens and Glasgow earned 61.3, while Brandel scored 67.6. For run block grades, Minnesota centers ranked higher than Detroit’s Glasgow. When examining snap counts, Glasgow stands out with 873, compared to Brandel’s 604 and Jurgens’ 309.Further reports from Heavy Sports’ Dave Holcomb indicate that Brandel and Jurgens may compete for the starting job. Notably, Brandel has six years of NFL experience but fewer snaps at center (363), while Jurgens has just one year of offensive experience and 309 snaps at center. Glasgow could be a valuable veteran presence, just as Ryan Kelly was. He has at least 600 snaps at center in three of his 10 NFL seasons. Holcomb suggests Minnesota could sign Detroit center on a cheap, one-year contract. In return, he would be a quality addition to the Vikings. According to Spotrac, the Michigan alum is projected to sign a one-year deal worth $5.9M, giving him an average annual salary of $5.9M. His total career earnings over 10 years are $47M.So, would the Vikings sign the Lions’ longtime offensive lineman? Remains to be seen…
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