John Hughes Scouting Report

Cincinnati Bearcats defensive tackle John Hughes excels as a run defender and has limited upside as a interior pass rusher. Hughes plays with a very nice pad level that helps him overtake ground in the trenches and gain position.

When double-teamed, he can hold his ground and not get pancaked. Doesn't have very long arms, but uses leverage to his advantage at all times. Plays a very cerebral game from play to play. Hughes plays with a chip on his shoulder and would be an ideal fit in rotation that only keeps him on the field on first down and other run situations.

If he adds bulk to his lower half, he could improve his explosion off the line which is inconsistent at times. Cleveland needed help for its run defense and Hughes is a smart fit in that regard. The only issue is if they expect him to contribute on all three downs, which is asking a lot of him since he's not ready for that role just yet.

Hughes is a depth addition for now. He will fill in for Phil Taylor or Ahtyba Rubin when either player needs a break.