Denver Broncos: Graham Glasgow free agent signing grade

The Denver Broncos have signed free agent offensive lineman Graham Glasgow to a four-year, $44 million contract. What kind of impact will he make?

The Denver Broncos are going to give the big-money interior free agent signing another shot.

Just three years after signing offensive guard Ron Leary away from the Dallas Cowboys for more than $9 million per season, the Broncos have reportedly signed Detroit Lions center/guard Graham Glasgow to a contract worth $11 million per season.

According to Adam Schefter, Glasgow is getting four years, $44 million from the Broncos with $26 million guaranteed.

According to Mike Klis, the Broncos currently have Glasgow penciled in at the right guard position which was recently vacated by Leary.

That could change, though, as Glasgow has center/guard positional versatility.

Let’s grade this move based on a few factors:

• Value
• Filling a need
• Player’s ability

Value

On the surface, $11 million annually for an offensive guard seems excessive, but the Broncos and the rest of the NFL just saw the New England Patriots pay $14 million for one year of Joe Thuney on the franchise tag.

The Washington Redskins did the same with Brandon Scherff, and the Philadelphia Eagles are paying Brandon Brooks over $14 million per season on his contract as well.

Paying Glasgow $11 million on an average annual salary will put him tied with two other players — Las Vegas’ Gabe Jackson and Tennessee’s Rodger Saffold — as the 7th-highest paid offensive guard in the NFL. Among interior linemen, there are 12 players making $11 million or more on an average annual basis.

Glasgow would be tied for the third-highest paid center in the NFL if the Broncos played him there.

He’s only 26 years old and entering his prime playing years.

Filling a need

This move fills one of the Broncos’ most obvious needs on the offensive side of the ball. While many expected the Broncos to put their initial investment in the defensive line.

The Broncos have a couple of in-house roster options — Patrick Morris at center and Elijah Wilkinson at right guard — who could potentially start, but Glasgow, in theory, gives this team a full starting five to open camp if he plays center.

If the Broncos continue to look to free agency for a center (BJ Finney of the Steelers or their own Connor McGovern), this move looks even better.

John Elway likes to get to the NFL Draft with no pressing needs, and Glasgow fills a huge void at either right guard or center.

Player’s ability

The Lions didn’t franchise tag Glasgow, who has become a very solid player for them. They didn’t necessarily have to tag him to prove he’s good or anything, but the Lions let him hit the market and you have to wonder why.

Perhaps, similar to the Broncos with some of their own in-house free agents, the Lions felt they could find a cheaper alternative to give equal or similar production.

Brandon Thorn, an offensive line expert, put together a great breakdown of Glasgow’s skills on the field. He played the majority of his snaps last season at right guard.

Before doing a deep dive into the film and trusting the people who have, it looks like the Broncos got a really good starting right guard in Glasgow who would be able to do just as good of a job at center if need be.

He has just six penalties over the last two seasons combined.

Grade: B+

The Broncos invested quite a bit of capital into Glasgow. They made him one of the top 12 highest-paid interior offensive linemen in the NFL, and along with that will come big-time pressure to perform.

This is an above average move for the Broncos from a player value and contract value perspective. They filled a major need with a good player and they paid the price for it.