The Detroit Lions have a clear need heading into the 2026 offseason: they’ve got to find a starting center. And while there’s always the temptation to roll the dice on a rookie, that’s a tough ask for a team looking to keep its window for contention wide open.
The Lions have had mixed results when it comes to drafting offensive linemen. On the plus side, they’ve hit on guys like Tate Ratledge, Christian Mahogany, and Penei Sewell-players who’ve shown they can hold their own in the trenches.
But they’ve also swung and missed, or at least come up short, with names like Giovanni Manu and Miles Frazier, the latter of whom has been sidelined by injury.
So what’s the move? Free agency has some intriguing names, but the price tags are steep.
And with Detroit yet to make any significant cap-clearing moves, shelling out for a top-tier veteran may not be in the cards. That leaves one realistic path: the trade market.
One name that’s been floated as a potential solution is Joe Tippmann, the New York Jets’ young center who spent time at guard this past season. Tippmann’s a player with upside-he’s flashed elite-level run blocking and has held his own in pass protection.
The challenge? Convincing the Jets to part with him.
The idea, suggested by Lions writer Mike Payton, is that Tippmann could be a long-term answer in the middle of Detroit’s offensive line. He’s still on his rookie deal, which makes him a cost-effective option, and he’s a natural center-his move to guard in New York wasn’t exactly a seamless transition.
Sliding him back to his original position could unlock his full potential. And with the Jets looking to stockpile picks for what figures to be a pivotal draft in their rebuild, there’s logic in them listening to offers.
Still, it’s hard to imagine New York letting go of a young, ascending lineman without getting something meaningful in return. A fourth-round pick might not cut it. The Lions don’t have a third-rounder in this year’s draft-thanks to the Isaac TeSlaa trade in 2025-and while giving up a second-rounder feels like an overpay for Tippmann at this stage, the Jets would likely want either a premium pick or a starting-caliber player back.
That’s where things get interesting. Would Detroit consider moving someone like Graham Glasgow to make this deal work?
It would be a clean swap-Glasgow heads to New York, where he could slide back to guard, and Tippmann comes to Detroit to resume his role at center. From a cap perspective, it’s a savvy move for the Lions.
Trading Glasgow before June 1 would free up $11.6 million in cap space. Tippmann, meanwhile, carries just a $4.6 million cap hit for 2026.
That’s a net savings of $7 million-money that could be used to shore up other areas of the roster.
And there’s a bit of symmetry here, too. With Aaron Glenn now in New York, a deal between the Lions and Jets would have a natural connection. Glenn knows the Lions’ personnel well, and that could grease the wheels for a player-for-player trade.
Bottom line: Tippmann isn’t a sure thing, but he’s a young lineman with legit upside at a position of need. If the Lions can swing a deal that doesn’t mortgage their draft capital or gut their starting lineup, this could be one of those under-the-radar moves that pays off in a big way down the line. It’s not flashy, but it’s the kind of smart roster-building that contenders need to get right.