Tag: center

Where will the Broncos play Graham Glasgow?

Where will the Broncos have Graham Glasgow play on the offensive line this season?

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The Broncos landed one of the top offensive linemen available in free agency, signing former Lions standout Graham Glasgow to a three-year deal. The question now is, where will Glasgow play?

In Detroit, Glasgow spent time at left guard, center and right guard. The only position on the offensive line he didn’t play was tackle — and he’s willing to give that a shot if needed.

“I’m open to playing wherever,” Glasgow said during a conference all with reporters on March 24. “I’ve played all the positions in the past except for tackle. If they wanted me to play tackle, I’d give it a go, but hopefully not. I kind of imagine guard, but center is cool too.”

Fortunately, Denver shouldn’t need Glasgow to play as a tackle. At the moment, the Broncos view Glasgow as a right guard.

“Right now I think we’re thinking guard, but he can play center just as well, and that’s always good to have,” coach Vic Fangio said in a recent interview with Alexis Perry of the team’s official website.

After selecting Dalton Risner in the second round of last year’s draft, Denver will now have a pair of quality guards on either side of the center — a spot that seemingly remains up for grabs. If the Broncos do not select a center in April’s draft, Patrick Morris and Austin Schlottmann will likely compete for the job during training camp.

If the team needs to make changes to the line during the season — either in response to injuries or poor play — Glasgow’s versatility will come in handy. It sounds like he will begin the year as a guard, though.

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Here are Graham Glasgow’s contract details with Broncos

Broncos guard Graham Glasgow will have a reasonable salary cap hit this season.

The Broncos agreed to terms on a four-year deal with former Lions offensive lineman Graham Glasgow last week. Thanks to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis, we now know the details of how that contract breaks down.

Glasgow received a $12 million signing bonus, according to Klis. That money has already been paid to him but for salary cap purposes, it will be prorated over the next four years ($3 million per season).

This year, Glasgow will have a $2.5 million base salary and a $500,000 playtime bonus. Those totals combined with his prorated signing bonus gives Glasgow a 2020 salary cap hit of $5,968,750, according to OverTheCap.com.

That’s a very reasonable cap hit for a player that’s scheduled to earn an average of $11 million per season. Glasgow’s cap hits will jump up to $12 million (2021 and 2022) and $14 million (2023) in the coming years.

After accounting for Glasgow’s cap hit, OTC estimates that the team has $21,960,396 in remaining cap space. That does not include the cap hit of new punter Sam Martin, who will earn an average of $2.35 million per year.

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John Elway comments on Broncos signing Graham Glasgow

“Graham’s best football is ahead of him and he fills a big need for us,” Broncos general manager John Elway said.

The Denver Broncos officially signed offensive lineman Graham Glasgow to a four-year, $44 million contract on Monday. Broncos president of football operations/general manager John Elway announced the signing in a press release.

“Graham is a big, powerful and tough ascending player who was one of the top interior offensive linemen on the market,” Elway said. “Over the course of his pro and college career, he’s shown incredible durability and been very productive. Graham’s best football is ahead of him and he fills a big need for us.”

Glasgow (6-6, 310 pounds) spent the first four years of his career with the Detroit Lions, earning starts at left guard (18 games), right guard (14 games) and center (26 games). Glasgow’s versatility will help shore up Denver’s offensive line.

Glasgow is expected to start at right guard but if the Broncos have a center go down with an injury, he can easily fill in there. Last season, Glasgow played 14 games at right guard and one game at center and did not allow a single sack.

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Broncos officially sign OL Graham Glasgow to 4-year contract

The Broncos have signed Graham Glasgow to a four-year deal. Where will he play on the offensive line?

The Denver Broncos agreed to terms with former Detroit Lions offensive lineman Graham Glasgow on a four-year deal on March 16. The contract could not become official until the start of the new league year on March 18.

Glasgow’s contract didn’t become official right at the start of the new league year, though.

In response to COVID-19, the NFL told teams they were not allowed to travel to players or have players visit their facilities for physical examinations. That has resulted in many free agency signings remaining unofficial even a week after the negotiating window opened.

Denver managed to have Glasgow take a physical (presumably from a doctor near him) and made the deal official on March 23. Glasgow will earn $44 million over the course of the four-year contract and $26 million is guaranteed.

It remains to be seen where Glasgow will fit on the offensive line.

Glasgow can play both guard and center — his flexibility gave him increased value during free agency. Denver lost center Connor McGovern to the Jets but that does not necessarily mean Glasgow will start at center right away.

The Broncos might have Glasgow start at right guard with a drafted rookie starting at center. Denver may also consider starting Patrick Morris or Austin Schlottmann at center. Alternatively, the Broncos could start Glasgow at center and have Elijah Wilkinson start at right guard.

Glasgow’s flexibility will give Denver options and no matter where he initially starts, that flexibility could come in handy when injuries hit.

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Seahawks officially announce signing of offensive lineman B.J. Finney

The Seattle Seahawks have officially announced the signing of former Steelers’ offensive lineman, B.J. Finney who can play center and guard.

The Seattle Seahawks have now officially announced the signing of former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman, B.J. Finney. Reports the two sides had reached an agreement surfaced last week.

Finney, a product of Kansas State, first entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2015. He spent the last four seasons in Pittsburgh, starting 13 of 59 games played. Finney’s versatility is key, having logged time at center and both guard positions.

The Seahawks battled a number of injuries on the offensive line last year, losing both starting center Justin Britt and guard Ethan Pocic to the injured reserve. Finney could provide much-needed depth across the line when the team reconvenes this offseason.

In light of the coronavirus outbreak, the Seahawks had made it clear they would not be announcing any new personnel moves until contracts had officially been signed.

For a look at all of Seattle’s reported moves so far, be sure and check our live free-agency tracker here.

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Who will be the Broncos’ center in 2020?

Patrick Morris and Austin Schlottmann appear poised to compete for the Broncos’ center position this offseason.

Broncos new offensive lineman Graham Glasgow played center for the Lions last season but Denver seemingly plans to slot him in at right guard in 2020. So who will replace center Connor McGovern, who left to join the Jets?

Right now, the candidates are Patrick Morris and Austin Schlottmann, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis.

Last season, Morris (25) received a game ball after coming in to replace an injured Dalton Risner against the Lions in Week 16. Though he primarily plays center, Morris performed well as a fill-in guard in a 27-17 win.

“I think both Pat and Jake [Rodgers] came in and did commendable jobs,” Broncos coach Vic Fangio said after the game. “Really, Pat’s position of choice or best position is center.

“He’s a guy that can finish a game for you at guard, but he went in there and played well, as did Jake. Really, kudos to those guys.”

Rodgers entered the game to replace an injured Elijah Wilkinson.

Morris was claimed off waivers by Denver after being cut by the Steelers in December. Schlottmann (24) signed with the Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2018. Both of them are versatile center/guards. Schlottmann has more experience — four starts compared to Morris’ mere two fill-in appearances.

Unless the team drafts a center in April, it looks like Schlottman and Morris will compete for snapping duties and Glasgow will play as a guard.

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Joe Douglas proving he’s prudent in first offseason as Jets GM

The Jets seemingly missed out on big names in the first few days of NFL free agency, but that isn’t a failure on Joe Douglas’ part.

The Jets figured to be major players during the first wave of free agency. But in his first full offseason as general manager, Joe Douglas has shown that he won’t make the same mistakes as his predecessors and spend wildly on big names. Instead, as the new league officially began Wednesday, it looks like Douglas is hoping to find value wherever he can rather than overpay.

While other teams scooped up top-tier cornerbacks, linebackers and offensive linemen for boatloads of money, the Jets appeared to strikeout. Jack Conklin, Dante Fowler, James Bradberry and Graham Glasglow were the most surprising names to see the Jets miss on.

A lot of these failures to sign appear to be price-related, though. While Mike Maccagnan handed out money like he was playing Monopoly, Douglas appears to have a number in his mind and is unwavering in his evaluation. Take a look at Conklin and Fowler, for instance. The Jets reportedly never exceeded the Browns’ offer of three years, $42 million, nor were they willing to give Fowler the three-year, $48 million deal he got from the Falcons. Teams simply have to shell out cash for the players they want. Douglas, however, seems to have his eye on value more than anything.

By looking at the transactions and contracts, it seems to be by design.

Douglas looks to be a prudent and frugal team builder. All of his deals thus far appear to be team-friendly and give him lots of flexibility after 2020. He gave a three-year, $27.3 million contract with $13.7 million guaranteed to George Fant, a raw but promising lineman. In reality, the contract is really only a one-year, $9.25 million deal – much more manageable if Fant doesn’t pan out. Brian Poole is coming back on a ridiculously low one-year, $5 million deal after grading as one of the best cornerbacks in the league in 2019 and lineman Alex Lews re-signed on a three-year, $18.6 million deal with only $6 million guaranteed.

The only free agent Douglas has given a lot of money to so far is center Connor McGovern, and for good reason. McGovern, who signed a three-year, $27 million contract with $18 million guaranteed, proved to be one of the best centers in the league thanks to his durability, production and lack of penalties. Douglas saw value in that and paid what was needed to bring McGovern into the fold.

It’s not a failure on Douglas’ part to be unwilling to chew up cap space on free agents. That’s how the Jets have gotten into the same spiral of destitute over the last decade. Just look at the Trumaine Johnson deal, which will cost the Jets money this season even though he won’t play for them. Douglas proved already he’s willing to lose out on marquee free agents and settle for mid-tier players on team-friendly contracts. Don’t forget, he also has a couple of early-round picks to use properly in next month’s draft.

We’re only a few days into free agency and the Jets still have over $41 million in cap space. That’s a win for a team that is still building and a general manager who likes to invest carefully.  

Connor McGovern leaves Broncos, agrees to terms with Jets

Former Broncos center Connor McGovern plans to sign with the Jets.

Former Denver Broncos offensive lineman Connor McGovern has agreed to terms with the New York Jets, according to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News.

McGovern (6-4, 306 pounds) was selected by the Broncos in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL draft out of Missouri. After serving as a reserve backup as a rookie, McGovern started in five games as a guard in 2017.

In 2018, McGovern started the season as the team’s right guard before transitioning to center after Matt Paradis went down with an injury. McGovern started all 16 games at center in 2019.

McGovern was not penalized at all last season but he did allow 3.5 sacks, according to STATS LLC. McGovern’s versatility gives him added value but the Broncos seem to believe another player can be plugged in a center without too many hiccups.

It remains to be seen if Denver plans to have a player already on the roster take over snapping duties or if the Broncos will look to outside help, either through free agency or the NFL draft. One candidate to replace McGovern is guard/center Graham Glasgow, who agreed to a four-year deal on Monday.

If Denver considers Glasgow a guard, Patrick Morris is the only center left on the team’s roster after the departure of McGovern.

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Report: Broncos OL Connor McGovern won’t be re-signed

After signing free agent center Graham Glasgow on Monday, the Broncos will not be re-signing Connor McGovern.

The Denver Broncos made a contract offer to pending free agent center Connor McGovern on Monday but pulled that offer after agreeing to terms with Graham Glasgow, according to a report from KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis.

Glasgow, like McGovern, is a guard/center. He agreed to a four-year, $44 million contract with Denver on Monday. That deal won’t become official until the new league year begins on Wednesday.

The Broncos also placed a second-round tender on offensive lineman Elijah Wilkinson on Monday. If Denver plans to start Wilkinson at right guard, Glasgow will start at center, making McGovern expendable.

The Broncos could have kept McGovern and started Glasgow at guard but he “has good interest from other teams,” according to Klis. McGovern’s price might be out of Denver’s range after the team invested in Glasgow.

If the Broncos bring in another center this offseason — either through free agency or the draft — Glasgow might still end up playing guard.

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Broncos agree to 4-year deal with OL Graham Glasgow

The Broncos have agreed to terms on a four-year contract with former Lions offensive lineman Graham Glasgow.

The Denver Broncos might have just found their Connor McGovern replacement.

The Broncos have agreed to terms with former Detroit Lions offensive lineman Graham Glasgow, according to multiple media reports. The signing cannot become official until the new league year begins on Wednesday.

Denver and Glasgow reached an agreement on a four-year, $44 million contract with $26 million guaranteed, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Glasgow, like McGovern, is a former guard who transitioned to center. McGovern is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on Wednesday.

For now, Glasgow projects to be a right guard for the Broncos, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis. That might change, depending on if Denver brings in another center — either through free agency or the draft — this offseason.

The Broncos opted not to pick up Ron Leary’s contract option so the team needs a new starter at right guard. One potential candidate to replace Leary is Elijah Wilkinson, who received a second-round tender from Denver on Monday. If Wilkinson starts at guard, Glasgow would likely play at center.

There’s still a possibility that the Broncos could re-sign McGovern and have Glasgow play guard, leaving Wilkinson to serve as a backup swing guard/tackle.

Glasgow entered the league as a third-round pick out of Michigan in 2016. He has started 58 of a possible 62 games with the Lions and allowed 8.25 sacks over the last four years, according to STATS LLC. Last season, Glasgow did not allow any sacks.

McGovern started all 16 games at center last year and allowed 3.5 sacks.

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