What Can We Learn From Mike Glennon’s Draft Profile, Which Isn’t Much Different Than What He Is Now

Mike Glennon is a known commodity who has made 18 starts, thrown for 4,100 yards, and has a career passer rating of 84.6 in 21 career appearances.

On the other hand, Glennon is also a wild card. He is an unfinished product who took a backseat to Josh McCown in 2014, as well as Jameis Winston in 2015 and 2016. Glennon fell back into relative anonymity as Winston’s backup, throwing 11 passes in a two-year stretch. And yet, Glennon is familiar with what it takes to be a professional quarterback. He has been in the huddle, under center, and in meeting rooms.

Still, he has spent the last 40 games of his career as a bench option who has not received the kind of reps necessary to refine his game.

Since our sample of Glennon is limited, it’s worth re-visiting his draft profile to mine through bits of information that could prove beneficial to getting to know this future Bears quarterback.

The Mike Glennon 2013 Draft Profile

MEASUREABLES (via NFL.com):

Height: 6-foot-7

Weight: 225

Arm length: 33-1/8 inches

Hands: 9-5/8 inches

STRENGTHS:

Plus arm strength is a common thread between scouting reports and profiles from NFL.com, Walter Football, National Football Post, SB Nation, and Bleacher Report. The ability to distribute the ball all over the field with velocity and a quick release from the pocket is a good skill set to start with at the position. So if you’re looking for a positive, there is a start.

Height was expected to work in Glennon’s favor, too. His 6-7 frame should allow him to see down field with clarity, and prevent balls from being batted down at the line of scrimmage.

Intelligence was another common plus for Glennon, who went through his reads well, had an understanding of route concepts and blitz reads, and had a strong presence when given a clean pocket.

WEAKNESSES:

Glennon is as immobile as they come under center, and his feet seem to be at the root of the problem. There was a tendency to get lazy with his footwork, struggling to move and avoid pass rushers or extend plays because of “slow” or “heavy” feet that can only be seen as a major cause for concern moving forward.

This is a two-pronged problem because not only is Glennon at risk of taking a lot of hits, but the team around him takes a step back because the lack of mobility limits Glennon from escaping pass rushers and using his big arm to make plays.

There is also a sense of questionable decision making and inconsistency in the accuracy department that represent a bad combination in the face of pressure, and perhaps it comes down to trusting his arm too much.

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At age 27, four years removed from being drafted, many of the strengths and weaknesses remain. Unfortunately – from Glennon’s perspective – the cons stand out more than the pros, hence his venture into the free agent market.

His weaknesses kept him from being a steady NFL starter and played a part in relegating him to backup duties, as the strengths didn’t flash enough to keep the Buccaneers from drafting Winston with the No. 1 overall pick in 2015. On the other hand, it is evident his strengths (and the perception of untapped potential) helped net a big contract and a fresh start in Chicago.

In a quarterback hungry league where there are more vacancies than bodies to fill them, Glennon represents an able-bodied signal caller with a strong arm and enough experience as a professional to be called upon to start games at the NFL level.

Glennon still possesses a strong arm and a good physical frame. Four years in Tampa Bay should have given him a general understanding of what it takes to be a starting caliber quarterback on the field and in the locker room. However, poor footwork, lack of mobility, questionable decision making, and feel are areas of improvement Glennon needs to take on – and can only do so with constant reps.

Don’t expect Glennon to be a difference maker from Week 1. Instead, he is a low-risk talent who has room to grow and will be given a chance to do so on a team-friendly deal. But also know that Glennon owns the kind of flaws that will limit his ceiling at this stage of the career.

There is a reason he was available as a free agent, after all.