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Detroit Lions: Rookie Contributions a Bright Spot in 2016 Season

By Zac Snyder

Apr 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Taylor Decker (Ohio State) with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected by the Detroit Lions as the number sixteen overall pick in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at Auditorium Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Taylor Decker (Ohio State) with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected by the Detroit Lions as the number sixteen overall pick in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at Auditorium Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jul 29, 2016; Allen Park, MI, USA; Detroit Lions center Graham Glasgow (60) points down the field during practice at the Detroit Lions Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 29, 2016; Allen Park, MI, USA; Detroit Lions center Graham Glasgow (60) points down the field during practice at the Detroit Lions Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /

Graham Glasgow

Sometimes a worst-case scenario isn’t actually bad and Graham Glasgow is an example. When he was drafted in the third round, he looked like obvious competition for Travis Swanson, who was coming off a disappointing 2015 season.

Down on Swanson and a day two investment in Glasgow, my expectations centered around Glasgow competing for playing time at center.

"Best-case scenario: Quickly beats out Travis Swanson for the starting center job in training camp and shows himself to be a clear upgrade early and throughout the season. Worst-case scenario: Is quickly beaten out by Travis Swanson for the starting center job and remains the backup center throughout the season."

Glasgow was never a threat to Swanson for the starting center job and that was a good thing! Swanson looked like a different player and was one of the strengths of the offensive line before missing the last four games of the regular season and the playoff game.

Even better news was that the selection of Glasgow wasn’t a waste, even with Swanson locking down the starting center spot. Glasgow’s versatility allowed the Lions to bench Laken Tomlinson and insert Glasgow at left guard. He wasn’t a revelation there, and Tomlinson was back in the lineup with Glasgow filling in at center with Swanson out with injury, but the Lions now have depth and flexibility that they didn’t have a year ago.

It may have been under a different set of circumstances, but Glasgow largely exceeded expectations as a rookie.

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