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The West Virginia Mountaineers will have a big hole to fill in the receiver room next fall as senior Bryce Ford-Wheaton announced earlier this week that he will enter the 2023 NFL Draft. Ford-Wheaton had the option to return for a sixth year, but felt the time was right for him to make the jump to the next level.
Ford-Wheaton finished his career 12th in WVU history in receptions (143), 18th in receiving yards (1,867) and tied for 15th in touchdown receptions (15).
So, where does the big-bodied receiver stand in terms of the eyes of NFL scouts? Well, that’s really hard to gauge, but most NFL Draft analysts consider him a day three pick or undrafted free agent.
Below is a scouting report and draft grade on Bryce Ford-Wheaton shared by Zack Patraw of the NFL Draft Bible with FanNation/Sports Illustrated.
Analysis:
The big-framed wide receiver prospect took on the biggest workload of his college football career, playing as a possession-style receiver playing the X position for the Mountaineers. At about six-foot-three and 220 pounds, Ford-Wheaton’s best attributes are making contested catches and using tremendous body control to adjust to passes in the air. He uses his frame to box-out defenders and beat them to the highest point of the ball. As a deep threat, Ford-Wheaton has his fair share of explosive, big plays and is capable of using his quickness enough to escape defenders and find the end zone. He is not easily carried and can fight through arm tackles in the open field. Ford-Wheaton has a lot of potential in his game, but there is a lot of development left for him to make the step to the next level. He needs a more refined route tree and needs to add subtle nuances within his routes. He lacks snappiness in his breaks and lacks the overall explosiveness of them. He also has a small burst upon his release. He will get deep into the defender and struggle to get free and get separation. Ford-Wheaton relies on his big body and physicality to make plays. The West Virginia product will need to work on his technique when addressing and catching the ball, as he often makes the wrong decision about placing his hands to make the catch. Too many drops throughout his film will turn NFL evaluators away. His athletic profile is decent, but not in the spotlight. Ford-Wheaton is a fringe-draftable prospect who will likely be a priority free agent for many NFL teams to fill the receiver room.
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Score:
UDFA – No Priority Agent
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