The Michigan football team’s offensive line has achieved an extraordinary level of success in college football over the past three years. During this period, they have won two Joe Moore Awards, which recognize the best offensive line in the nation, as well as three Big Ten titles and a national title. The unit has received six first-team All-Big Ten honors and seven second-team All-Big Ten honors, produced two consensus All-Americans, and seen three of its players drafted into the NFL. Additionally, six members of the offensive line were invited to the 2024 NFL Draft Combine.
The Wolverines’ success on the field has translated to the NFL as well. Last season, an impressive total of 10 former Michigan offensive linemen appeared in NFL games. On the first day of NFL free agency, three of them demonstrated their value in the league by signing contracts worth a combined $107 million.
The initial signing was Graham Glasgow, who played a crucial role in the Detroit Lions’ offensive line last season. He secured a three-year, $20 million contract to remain with the Lions. Glasgow started 18 games, including playoff matches, and played in a total of 20 games, accumulating over 1,200 snaps throughout the season. Since being drafted in the third round in 2016, he has established a successful NFL career, starting 110 games—77 for the Lions and 33 for the Denver Broncos. If he completes the entirety of his current contract, Glasgow’s career earnings will reach $52.4 million.
Later in the day, two recent standout players from Michigan signed new contracts after completing their rookie deals. Jon Runyan Jr., who started all 19 games for the Green Bay Packers, including two playoff games, this season, secured a three-year, $30 million deal with the New York Giants. Runyan, a native of Moorestown, New Jersey, will be returning to the East Coast.
Remaining on the East Coast is Michael Onwenu, who re-signed with the New England Patriots on a three-year, $57 million contract. Onwenu, a former sixth-round draft pick, was selected just 10 picks before Runyan in the 2020 NFL Draft. He has started 56 games for the Patriots over the past four seasons, including 15 starts this past season, with many of them at offensive tackle, which adds to his value in his position.
In the recent offseason, Michael Onwenu was ranked as the 26th top free agent by Pro Football Focus (PFF). Jon Runyan and Graham Glasgow, on the other hand, were ranked 93rd and 121st, respectively. Several other former Michigan players also made it into PFF’s top 250 rankings, including Josh Uche at No. 49, Brandon Graham at No. 90, Maurice Hurst Jr. at No. 96, Michael Danna at No. 103, Jourdan Lewis at No. 179, Donovan Peoples-Jones at No. 197, and Bryan Mone at No. 249.
