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Quinn decided to let one of his draft success stories, right guard Graham Glasgow, depart in free agency. It was a justifiable choice based on the contract Glasgow, a slightly above-average, dependable but unspectacular guard, earned from the Denver Broncos. The four-year, $44 million deal with $26 million is a bad overpay by the Broncos. Good on Quinn for not putting that slop in his trough.
However…
The Lions went out and signed Halapoulivaati Vaitai in free agency. The move was made, and compensated, for “Big V” to play right tackle and replace Rick Wagner, a declining player Quinn also (smartly) let walk in free agency. Except the plan was flawed from the beginning.
Vaitai was a backup for the Philadelphia Eagles, one they didn’t feel good enough about at tackle that they drafted three other tackles in his final two years there. Playing left tackle in the Eagles matchup with the Lions in 2019, Vaitai was objectively terrible; it was plainly obvious he lacked the footwork and athleticism to play on the edge without TE help against speed pass rushers. He had some solid game tape and experience but floundered any time he was relied upon as a regular starter.
Quinn paid him $45 million over five years anyway. Vaitai injured his foot before the season even started. In the process, Tyrell Crosby–a smart Quinn draft pick in the fifth round in 2018–turned out to be a very capable starting right tackle when (finally) given the chance. That kicked Vaitai inside to right guard…
Except Quinn had already filled that hole with not one but two draft picks. Third-rounder Jonah Jackson was playing great early on. Veteran Joe Dahl was capable, too. The team also kept veteran Kenny Wiggins, a fan whipping boy but one who makes a perfectly serviceable No. 3 guard. Fourth-round pick Logan Stenberg was lucky to make the team because of the logjam.
Vaitai took over at right guard and the entire line declined. He wasn’t better than lightly-regarded journeyman backup Oday Aboushi; their Pro Football Focus scores are almost identical in close to the same number of snaps. Now Vaitai is hurt again and on I.R.
Quinn didn’t trust his prior decisions and considerable investment in the line. He didn’t trust new offensive line coach Hank Fraley, who has been a home run hire that needs to stick no matter who the new head coach might be. It cost Quinn $45 million for a backup offensive lineman the team doesn’t even need on a team where depth is embarrassingly thin on the defensive front.
