Draft Analysis: Bryce Ford-Wheaton

March 18, 2023 /
  • Height: 6’3″
  • Weight: 221 lbs
  • College: West Virginia
  • Tape watched: Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech, Oklahoma
  • College Comparison: Chase Claypool

Pros

  • Size

A monstrous opponent, Bryce Ford-Wheaton has all the size you need as a perimeter receiver. He plays big, too. He boxes out defenders and is tough through tackles.

  • Speed

Ford-Wheaton blistered the combine turf with a 4.38s 40-yard dash. While his speed didn’t necessarily show in his tape and statsheet, he clearly had the juice to spread the defense downfield.

  • YAC

Ford-Wheaton is a menace with the football. He almost guarantees to move piles and pick up yards after the catch. He won’t make defenders miss, but he will run them over.

Midline

  • Contested Catches

Specifically on short routes, where BFW can turn his body to the ball and shield defenders, he excels at making difficult catches. However, he did not complete enough close-quarters deep balls to make you trust his big play ability. He was very good in the redzone completing jump balls.

  • Hands

Too many critical drops to make this a pro for BFW. He has strong hands and can go get the ball, but he is too inconsistent.

This drop turned interception ended up deciding the game.

Cons

  • Route Running

Ford-Wheaton is a very clunky mover. He especially struggles getting in and out of route breaks. More often than not, he has to round routes to keep his momentum. Additionally, the route tree he ran at West Virginia was very simplistic. Most of his production stemmed from fades and screen plays.

  • Release

If I had to choose one area that was most disappointing from BFW, it would be his inability to win at the line of scrimmage. He consistently allows corners to win with their first punch, then dictate where Ford-Wheaton’s route will go. He has to develop better counters and use his own strength more.

Too often, Ford-Wheaton is squeezed to the sideline. At his size, he has to be able to hold his line and protect a pocket for the throw.

Overview

Bryce Ford-Wheaton caught everyone’s attention with his extraordinary combine performance. There aren’t many athletes with his size and speed available year to year in the draft. Teams will take a chance on Ford-Wheaton, with the hope they can refine his raw athleticism.