Cincinnati Bengals: Predicting how rookies will perform

Ryan Glasgow, DT

Expected Role: Backup Rotational Defensive Tackle

2017 Statistical Prediction: 16 games (0 starts), 14 tackles, 3 tackles for loss

Moves earlier in the draft helped Cincinnati attack their depleting talent reserves at defensive end. Glasgow was a move to give the same treatment to the interior of the group as well. At times it appeared questionable as to whether Glasgow would actually make the team. There were tons of talented players drafted not only this season but the past few. often this summer, it was hard to discern which guys would actually manage to separate themselves from the pack.

Glasgow’s freshly drafted status definitely helped, and the prowess he showed during college made him worthy of a spot on this depth chart. It probably won’t be one with a lot of early action, however. Besides the oft-mentioned penchant for Cincinnati to slow-play their rookies, there are more factors to consider.

Throughout the offseason, the main thing standing in young players’ ways was past-prime veterans yet to be unseated. Surprisingly, more of them than expected along this defensive line actually were given the boot at cutdowns.

Unfortunately for Glasgow, that mainly happened at the end spots. Gilberry and Clarke were let go out there. On the inside, however, Pat Sims managed to keep his job. It would’ve been tempting fate to only hold three full-time defensive tackles on the roster — a possibility if Sims was cut — but Cincinnati went against that path.

For now, Sims is expected to start alongside Geno Atkins. Up next in the rotation is Andrew Billings, a fifth-rounder from last season’s draft who has the skill-set to be the backup nose tackle to Sims.

That leaves little for Glasgow already. Now also consider that, while this technically makes him the first backup to Atkins, that means he’s the backup to a player who has taken up over 71 percent of Cincinnati’s defensive snaps the past two seasons. That should be around 300-400 snaps.

Then, note that Johnson will be taking some snaps as an interior lineman this year. Likely, this will be used as a way to get more pass rushing on the field, so guys like Willis and Lawson may get more time here but Glasgow will be relegated to the bench still. Depending how many pass plays are involved, those 300-400 snaps could be cut in half, leaving maybe 200 or so for Glasgow.

With him primarily being a run stuffer, the chance for big, glorious, spotlight plays is small; with it, the chance to showcase his talents further is limited. He’ll have a spot, but don’t expect much to happen for him beyond some early-down burn later on in the season.