Graham Glasgow is one of the most common names making the rounds as an ideal target for the Cincinnati Bengals in free agency.
Which means it is time to take a closer look.
Other free-agent profiles: Derek Wolfe, Joe Schobert, Joe Thuney, Bryan Bulaga, Nick Kwiatkoski, Logan Ryan.
Background
Glasgow is a former third-round pick (2016) who has missed just two games over four seasons while a Detroit Lions coaching staff asked him to play a few different roles. Turning 28 in August, Graham is indeed the brother of Bengals defensive lineman Ryan Glasgow.
Notes
Glasgow has played 81 percent of his team’s snaps or more in each of the last three seasons. Last year, he graded at a 74.1 at Pro Football Focus, up from two prior years of grades in the 70ish range. He’s put in time at guard and center. Despite the high workrate, he hasn’t been called for more than three penalties in a season over the last three years.
Pros
Versatility is a pro with Glasgow, though Trey Hopkins holding it down at center means he could end up being an upgrade to perhaps either guard spot. He’d be a way for the team to fix its longstanding mistake after letting Kevin Zeitler get away all those years ago. This new staff has stressed guys knowing multiple spots anyway — Glasgow knows all three interior spots. He’s also open to playing for any team and scheme, per the Detroit Free Press’ Dave Birkett:
“As for free agency, where he’s completely open to team, coach and scheme, Glasgow said the build-up is reminiscent of his recent wedding, where he and his bride put months of planning into one big day and all a sudden his new reality was there.”
Cons
What feels like an offensive lineman crisis throughout the NFL is going to bump Glasgow’s market up exponentially. He’s probably going to make in excess of $10 million per year, especially with Washington taking Brandon Scherff off the market with the franchise tag. Depending on what the Bengals staff does with him, he’d already make the signing of John Miller last year redundant or shove aside both Billy Price and Micahel Jordan on the left side. Detroit being comfortable losing him registers as a little concerning too. As always, the money necessary here could conflict with money needed to extend guys like A.J. Green and Joe Mixon.
Verdict
Why not? If the Bengals want to show they’re serious about building around a rookie passer, it’s time to get some surefire talent on the line. Hopkins is good at center. Jonah Williams could be good at left tackle. But everything else is either a question mark or needs an upgrade. Throwing a player like Glasgow next to Williams on the left side, for example, could work wonders for the entire unit — not to mention the rookie under center.
