Who will have the better career: Wheatley or Butler?

[Schmo]

Yes it's ridiculous, but who will be "better" in the end? We have hardly seen anything from either of them, so make your bold prediction now.

A couple simple observations: Terrence is faster, but Darius doesn't have the injury problems. Darius fell to the Pats in the second, while most considered Terrence a reach in the same round.

Any other clues you all have that would make you lean one way or the other?

 

[Clonamery]

Is this a poll?

Also, let me know what "in the end" means.

 

[mayoclinic]

Butler. He's a legitimate 1st round talent who fell to 23, and has the potential to become a legitimate "shut-down" CB. Wheatley will be solid if he remains healthy, but doesn't have Butler's upside.

 

[Pats726]

Butler. He's a legitimate 1st round talent who fell to 23, and has the potential to become a legitimate "shut-down" CB. Wheatley will be solid if he remains healthy, but doesn't have Butler's upside.

I tend to agree...but I hope both have great careers here....

 

[BradfordPatsFan]

I am biased but I would say Butler. He lacks the injury concerns, he is more versatile, and teams just plain did not throw his way for the better part of two years, even when he had another NFL caliber (Tyvon Branch, Oakland) corner on the other side from him.

FWIW, I wouldn't mind the two of them being the lynch pins of the defensive backfield with Meriweather and Chung for years and rings to come!

 

[patsfan-1982]

Yes it's ridiculous, but who will be "better" in the end? We have hardly seen anything from either of them, so make your bold prediction now.

A couple simple observations: Terrence is faster, but Darius doesn't have the injury problems. Darius fell to the Pats in the second, while most considered Terrence a reach in the same round.

Any other clues you all have that would make you lean one way or the other?

i think butler has the biger upside to become a real #1 CB but i think Wheatley would have been are full time starting CB as a rookie if he did not get hurt so who know's we will just have to wait and see

 

[Schmo]

Is this a poll?

Also, let me know what "in the end" means.

Good idea, never posted a poll before... how do I do that?

 

[patchick]

Wheatley and Butler are actually very similar prospects in my mind -- and I said so before the draft. :snob:
http://www.patsfans.com/new-england...6751-darius-butler-overrated.html#post1333952
In fact, that's one of the reasons Butler seemed like such a likely Pats target. He fit the classic Pats CB profile: the skill strengths of Samuel & Hobbs in the body of Wheatley. Wheatley and Butler are both lightning quick, show good field awareness and feel for the ball, and are good form tacklers and active in run support despite their size.

Here are their measurables:
5-10 187 4.37 2.50 1.48 17 36 1/2 10'08" 4.20 6.74
5-11 183 4.41 2.56 1.46 X 43 11'02" 4.18 6.92
Plus they had comparable Wonderlic scores (double Samuel's!) and are considered hard-working and coachable.

If I had to bet on one, I guess it would be the guy without metal pins in his wrist. But here's hoping they're on the field together for years to come.

 

[Adam Seward]

Mark my words, Butler and Wheatley will be the Fitzgerald and Boldin of the defensive side in the football world.

 

[Rob0729]

Considering Butler hasn't played a down in the NFL and Wheatley only played part of a season, it is impossible to even really make a good guess.

On the face of it, I would say Butler is going to be better because he was more highly touted as a draft prospect, but there were about 100 WRs more highly touted than Wes Welker when he was a draft prospect and most of them are already out of the NFL and some never even played a down. So, what does that say about being a highly touted draft prospect?

 

[mayoclinic]

Mark my words, Butler and Wheatley will be the Fitzgerald and Boldin of the defensive side in the football world.

I know he hasn't yet played a down for us, but I still have great hopes for Leigh Bodden based on how he played for Cleveland in 2007. The fact that he did well in Cleveland's scheme under Romeo gives me hope that last year was the anomoly, not 2007. I like his size as well. I know it's wishful thinking, but I'm hoping that Butler/Bodden/Wheatley turn all turn out well, which would potentially give us one of the strongest CB corps we've ever had.

 

[Adam Seward]

I know he hasn't yet played a down for us, but I still have great hopes for Leigh Bodden based on how he played for Cleveland in 2007. The fact that he did well in Cleveland's scheme under Romeo gives me hope that last year was the anomoly, not 2007. I like his size as well. I know it's wishful thinking, but I'm hoping that Butler/Bodden/Wheatley turn all turn out well, which would potentially give us one of the strongest CB corps we've ever had.

Theres always room for a defensive Steve Breaston, amigo. I have good hopes for the trio.

 

[BradyManny]

I know he hasn't yet played a down for us, but I still have great hopes for Leigh Bodden based on how he played for Cleveland in 2007. The fact that he did well in Cleveland's scheme under Romeo gives me hope that last year was the anomoly, not 2007. I like his size as well. I know it's wishful thinking, but I'm hoping that Butler/Bodden/Wheatley turn all turn out well, which would potentially give us one of the strongest CB corps we've ever had.

Don't forget Springs, who had the best success rate of any CB in the league in 2007, and is a #1 corner when healthy.

And Wilhite showed promise down the stretch.

This is our deepest and most talented CB group in years.

 

[Sicilian]

I think Butler has better upside, but in the absense of any real information to go by, I'm going to play the averages here: Wheatley, because I've seen him display ability to play in the NFL (albeit in a very limited sample size).

 

[Deus Irae]

Wheatley, clearly. It has to be him, because he's got more letters in his last name. That will make all the difference.

 

[N.Eman]

From what I saw from wheatley last year is that he is good in zone coverage, of course the injury, then we never saw him again. Given Butler is a rookie, this year Wheatley will have a great year barring injury. But I have no doubt Butler will emerge as a good hopefully better (durable) CB for us later in the season. But only time will tell.

 

[ALP]

What if our last two draft plus brandon provide us w/ our DB's for the future?

a safety tandem of chung and brandon, with starting cb's wheatley and butler....and our nickelback is wilhite


i would love to see such a backfield if all these guys pan out

 

[VJCPatriot]

I haven't seen much of Wheatley. Butler however impressed me a lot, especially at the combine. Butler I think has the upside to become the next Ty Law for the Pats. Wheatley on the other hand has to stay healthy and has a propensity to break his wrists. I hope both do well but I'm higher on Butler's chances to become a #1 caliber corner for the Pats in the future.

 

[patchick]

Wheatley, clearly. It has to be him, because he's got more letters in his last name. That will make all the difference.

It's a classic mistake to go by raw letters. You need to factor in point value.

W H E A T L E Y
4+4+1+1+1+1+1+4 = 17

B U T L E R
3+1+1+1+1+1 = 8

Wow...despite being more highly touted in the draft, Butler is less than half as valuable.

 

[Deus Irae]

It's a classic mistake to go by raw letters. You need to factor in point value.

W H E A T L E Y
4+4+1+1+1+1+1+4 = 17

B U T L E R
3+1+1+1+1+1 = 8

Wow...despite being more highly touted in the draft, Butler is less than half as valuable.

I think it's getting to the point now where the evidence is already overwhelming.