Detroit Lions Release $47 Million Starter to Save $5.5M in Cap Space

Center Graham Glasgow was cut after 7 seasons with the team.

Mar. 3, 2026 at 2:50pm

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The Detroit Lions have released veteran center Graham Glasgow, who was on a three-year, $20 million contract that was set to run through the 2026 season. The move saves the Lions $5.6 million in cap space, though they are still $3.7 million over the cap and will need to make additional moves ahead of free agency.

Why it matters

The Lions are making cap-saving moves as they look to free up space to be active in free agency. Glasgow was a long-time starter for the team, so his release represents a significant change to the offensive line.

The details

Glasgow was set to earn $47 million over the course of his NFL career with the Lions. The team decided to part ways with the 7-year veteran in order to save $5.6 million against the salary cap, though they are still over the cap and will need to make additional moves.

  • On Monday, March 3, 2026, the Detroit Lions released center Graham Glasgow from their roster.

The players

Graham Glasgow

A 7-year veteran center who spent his entire NFL career with the Detroit Lions, starting 136 games for the team.

Jared Goff

The Detroit Lions' starting quarterback, who carries a $69 million cap hit for the 2026 season that the team may look to renegotiate.

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What they’re saying

“I'm grateful for the seven years I've spent as a Detroit Lion. I'm thankful for the great teammates, coaches and friends I had along the way. I love this city and the fans that have supported me for the better part of a decade. There truly was no place I would have rather been.”

— Graham Glasgow

What’s next

The Lions will need to renegotiate quarterback Jared Goff's contract, which carries a $69 million cap hit for the 2026 season, in order to create more cap space ahead of free agency.

The takeaway

The release of Graham Glasgow is a tough but necessary move for the Detroit Lions as they look to get under the salary cap and be active in free agency. It highlights the difficult decisions teams have to make to balance their roster and finances.