Did Graham Glasgow live up to expectations his first year with the Broncos?

Graham Glasgow was John Elway’s biggest free agent signing in 2019. Glasgow turned out to be Elway’s last big-time free agent signing as the general manager of the Denver Broncos too.

After a near Pro Bowl season in 2019 with the Detroit Lions, Elway snagged Glasgow off the market with a four-year, $44 million deal to help bolster the Broncos’ offensive line.

But did that high price tag translate to the field? Here’s a look at Glasgow’s first season with the Broncos.

Expectations entering the season: 16-game starter at right guard; borderline Pro Bowler

Actual output in 2020: 13-game starter; not in the Pro Bowl conversation

Did he live up to expectations? No

The 28-year old was stuck in a tough position before the season even began. Not only was Glasgow next to a rookie center, but he was also next to a backup right tackle in Elijah Wilkinson after Ja’Wuan James opted out of the season. On top of that, he didn’t have furniture in his house until midway through the season due to COVID-19. Talk about a tall task that faced the 6-foot-6 guard entering the season.

After missing only one game in his previous three seasons, Glasgow was sidelined for three games in 2020—two due to COVID and one to an injury—along with missing time in three other games. Even when Glasgow was playing, especially in the second half of the season, he was dealing with injuries. Credit his toughness for that.

The Broncos paid Glasgow big-time money to be a borderline Pro-Bowl guard. Unfortunately, Glasgow was never in the Pro Bowl discussion and his play didn’t reflect that he should have been.

Early in the season, before being hit with COVID and injuries, Glasgow was an above-average guard as he held his own in pass protection and was a stud in run blocking. However, once the injuries hit, he, understandably, took a step back.

For Glasgow to have a bounce-back year and be in the Pro Bowl conversation in 2021, what he may need the most is stability—with his health and with who is surrounding him.

Lloyd Cushenberry is expected to be Denver’s starting center next season after constantly improving as the season went on. Not only will that give Glasgow familiarity with his center, but it will also take pressure off the right guard as he was helping the rookie in 2019.

On the right side of Glasgow, the Broncos hope James will be a steady presence at right tackle as he has a $13 million cap hit and $19 million in dead money.

Glasgow was certainly dealt a tough hand in 2020 for a variety of reasons. He was able to turn the rotten hand into a fine, but not Pro-Bowl caliber, year.