Graham Glasgow NFL Draft 2016: Scouting Report, Grade for Lions Rookie

POSITIVES

A four-year letterman at a program known for churning out offensive linemen, Graham Glasgow emerged on the NFL draft scene thanks to new head coach Jim Harbaugh’s pushing his name to scouts. From Week 1 on, Glasgow earned the praise, starting 13 games at center after previously playing both guard positions.

A 37-game starter, Glasgow’s versatility will be appealing. He has the size and length to handle right tackle duties, has played both guard spots and was impressive as a center in 2015. That ability to help as a value pick adds to Glasgow’s stock.

A tough player at the point of attack, Glasgow wins with a strong lower body and aggressive hands. He’ll rely on power to move defenders out of the hole and had success against NFL-quality defenders in the Big Ten. He understands how to intimidate opponents and uses leverage and strong hands to push nose tackles or gap defenders away. He’ll recover and reset well after the snap to set up a pocket and doesn’t surrender his ground there easily.

NEGATIVES

Watching Glasgow work in space can be painful. He’s a plodder moving to the second level and doesn’t make initial contact with explosive hands. His accuracy when in space suffers, too, as Glasgow’s body control decreases the farther he gets from center.

Poor hand placement is a fixable issue but a large negative when viewing him as a first-year player. Glasgow gets way outside the frame of defenders and will be a penalty risk when put on the field. Tighter angles and learning to ride the hip of a defender will help him with hand placement, but he also has to speed up his hands both in pass protection and the run game.

Nothing Glasgow does happens fast, from his punch to his feet in space. If a team can recondition his blocks and speed up his entire process, he could be special.

A DUI arrest in March 2014 landed Glasgow on probation, which was then extended for an alcohol violation.

COMBINE RESULTS

Height: 6'6"

Weight: 307 lbs.

40 Time: 5.13s

Arm Length: 33 ⅝"

3-Cone: 7.63s

Short Shuttle: 4.63s

PRO COMPARISON: Bryan Stork, New England Patriots
FINAL GRADE: 5.70/9.00 (Round 4—Backup Caliber)