Open thread: Who will be the Detroit Lions’ starting guards in Week 1?
Apr 05, 2025
Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images
The Detroit Lions are going to have some shakeups on the offensive line, but at this point it’s not clear who will play where. Down at the NFL owners meetings, the Detroit Lions noted that they are thinking about some shakeups on the off
ensive line. We already know the Lions will need to replace one starter, as veteran Kevin Zeitler left in free agency this year.
At this point, it’s not entirely clear who the Lions intend to start at either guard position this upcoming season. Graham Glasgow figures to be in the competition, as he started at left guard last year and is making $5.5 million in 2025, but it is a little weird how Dan Campbell’s recent praise of him was almost exclusively pointing to his value as a backup center. Christian Mahogany was excellent in two starts during his rookie season, but Brad Holmes said this week that they aren’t ready to hand him a starting spot and need to give him competition. The Lions even teased having Giovanni Manu potentially slide inside to get some guard experience.
So today’s Question of the Day is:
Who will be the Lions’ starting guards in 2025?
My answer: First, I think we need to acknowledge that the Lions are almost certainly not done adding at the position. Holmes has said that they want to add a veteran guard, and drafting another is very much on the table, as well. So I’m very tempted to answer this question with “someone not currently on the team.”
However, I do still think the most likely answer to this question remains Glasgow and Mahogany. Even if the Lions go out there an sign a player like Will Hernandez or draft someone on Day 2 of the draft, I would put Glasgow and Mahogany ahead of them. If they draft a guard in the first round—a very real possibility—then I’d likely put them in, and likely ahead of Mahogany. I know we’re all eager to see Mahogany as a full-time player, but it would be a pretty significant risk to play very young players at both guard positions.
But the Lions are going to play whoever wins the job. Whether it’s a sixth-round pick, first-round pick, or veteran add, none of those guys will be handed a job—and neither will Glasgow, Mahogany, or any other player on the roster. Ultimately, the Lions are going to make their decision based on who practices the best in training camp, and we’re a long ways from knowing who that will be.
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