Player Signing New Pats OT Tyrone Wheatley Jr

[Uptown]

 

[patfanken]

IIRC, on draft day the Pats had a need for a young OT, but not a DIRE need. At the time they had Brown and McDermott. Brown who can be great when motivated and McDermott was a guy who played relatively well last season. They also had SEVERAL developmental guys like Stuber, Murry, etc and there was hope that maybe ONE of them would develop into a good back up this season. I think Cajuste was still on the roster at that time. They also had Reiff from FA who had been a quality OT in the league for many years, but had been injured the last couple.

So when Draft day came around the cries for a first day OT were GOING to be unheard. I can feel some sympathy for those who point out what seems to be a miss on Jones in 4th. I'd CERTAINLY would have rather had him over a kicker. But I understand the why they may not have. Andrews is near the end and they needed a KO guy and someone who could stretch our FG range. This kid might be the guy.....maybe.

Finally don't underestimate the lack of Owenu and Strange has meant to the lack of OT success this preseason. OG success makes it easier for an OT to block his man. When the OG makes good contact with his man he narrows the space an edge giuy can rush. When he gets blown off the ball that space widens.

As for Sow, his RAS scores are off the charts. He has the size, length and athleticism to be a great OT......potentially. All he is missing is a couple of years of experience, which between Rieff and McDermott, and the prospects, they thought they could give him this year. AND he has shown enough promise

The point is the Pats THOUGHT they'd be OK at OT THIS year and a developmental guy was all they needed for this draft. Myself I would have gone for the Pitt kid, but no one pays ME for player evaluations, nor SHOULD anyone. But I have 20-20 hindight that is among the best on this board too

And I think THAT is what we are doing here. We are applying hindsight which is very easy to do AFTER THE FACT. I fit all the buttons. It makes YOU look smart and the other guy look DUMB. It's a wonderful thing.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

While I agree with the people that say OT should have been addressed better and earlier, with where we stand now, being proactive before the waiver wire is a good move.

Wheatley isn't a proven JAG.... he could have great upside. We'll find out, probably sooner than we'd like.

I assume you mean in free agency and the draft? For the draft I prefer to take the BPA, not targeting a position and forcing the pick. Unfortunately we have a bit of a hole, but by next year the hole will be filled, and we will have some great players (Gonzo, White, Mapu, etc.).

I was not criticizing your post, just wanted to add something.

 

[BTTA]

Deep OT class next draft with at least couple of blue chip prospects. If the Pats are ever gonna be aggressive and move way up in the draft to get what they want like other teams do it’s a great time to do it and they can address a major need and not worry about it for years.

Based on what I've read here, the Pats will have one of the top picks next year, but will need to use it on a QB.

 

[jdlboot14]

Seems we all had high hopes for Strong, but truth is - he never looked comfortable this whole offseason, missed time, etc...
Harder truth is - this is another proof that BB just doesn't know how to use raw talent. I wonder if it scares him or something?
This issue has been primarily displayed in the disastrous WR track record, but Strong fits that pattern.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I assume you mean in free agency and the draft? For the draft I prefer to take the BPA, not targeting a position and forcing the pick. Unfortunately we have a bit of a hole, but by next year the hole will be filled, and we will have some great players (Gonzo, White, Mapu, etc.).

I was not criticizing your post, just wanted to add something.

In the higher rounds, I agree with you. But to go back to something I said before, there's a counterpart to BB's mantra that if you draft for need and miss the pick, you've still got a need and wasted a pick—if you ignore a need, then you might improve the team, but you still have a need that's become harder to fill.

 

[ahmed]

RBs are a dime a dozen. Lots of talk this off season about how RB salaries are depressed should tell you that. OTs not like that, they’re scarce as hens teeth. Lots of teams in need of OT. That’s why this is a good trade, Pats have more RBs than they can keep and they traded one of the excess for a scarce OT prospect.

great move!

Great move if he works out which is what I said. Until then it's trading a 4th rounder after 1 year for someone who has not played in NFL years after getting drafted.

 

[Uptown]

 

[PatsFan2]

IF he keep Conner McDermutt off the 53 l love the move. I was not impressed with P Strong he looked very challenged in the hands department good riddens.

 

[PatsFan2]

Both Rham and Zeke are both all purpose RB's advantage Patriots Offense. They should keep the Defense on their toes.

 

[Zuma]

I believe Strong is a good RB. It’s hard to get something for nothing in this league and the Browns saw value. We got an OT that has never played in a single regular season game however….he’s 26. This is not someone that is going to replace McDermott, Reiff or Anderson any time soon…or maybe never. Our starting OT’s won’t change because of this trade. My hope is he is better then Stueber at OT and can maybe be an in-line blocker at TE.

 

[Triumph]

You guys are harsh out here. I am not a cheerleader it's true. I voice my opinion and most of the time its not popular on this board.

I really like Strong and thought he would be an excellent change of pace back with athleticism for big plays and also an excellent receiver. I see him as a high upside player with athleticism that the Pats lack. I feel he never really got enough of a chance.
I do not know too much about Wheatley. He has not played many regular season games.
It would be fantastic if he works out because I have been pointing out the impossibility of being a good team in this league without strong line play on both sides of the ball.
I still would have preferred they prioritized proven OL free agent pickups and also used some high round draft capital to pickup a high upside tackle. Until they have a dominating OL, they will not be competitive.

Wheatley is a crap shoot, shot in the dark.

Are you a Doctor?

The Pats used to get skunked drafting RBs, but these days good drafted RBs are coming out of the woodwork.

 

[Real fan 02]

Will Wheatley get the ALL PRO pre- season consideration?

 

[Real fan 02]

I believe Strong is a good RB. It’s hard to get something for nothing in this league and the Browns saw value. We got an OT that has never played in a single regular season game however….he’s 26. This is not someone that is going to replace McDermott, Reiff or Anderson any time soon…or maybe never. Our starting OT’s won’t change because of this trade. My hope is he is better then Stueber at OT and can maybe be an in-line blocker at TE.

I understand we need depth on the O line... and this was likely why this move was made. It must be Grimm for reiff on the knee injury. I don't like th idea of trading strong Jr. Becuase I think he would have had a role here this season. He's impressed more than harris IMO.. I believe a Blocking TE could be better than anything stueber does. Well I guess it's a need addressed. Anderson is he of the NFI list?

 

[Zuma]

I understand we need depth on the O line... and this was likely why this move was made. It must be Grimm for reiff on the knee injury. I don't like th idea of trading strong Jr. Becuase I think he would have had a role here this season. He's impressed more than harris IMO.. I believe a Blocking TE could be better than anything stueber does. Well I guess it's a need addressed. Anderson is he of the NFI list?

Agree regarding Strong and Harris. But I’m not 100% sold on the Reiff angle…he was playing more and more at G…Wheatley isn’t a G. Our backup OT’s are not good and Stueber was the obvious one to replace. The next few days will be telling.

 

[Real fan 02]

Agree regarding Strong and Harris. But I’m not 100% sold on the Reiff angle…he was playing more and more at G…Wheatley isn’t a G. Our backup OT’s are not good and Stueber was the obvious one to replace. The next few days will be telling.

I thought Rieff was a RT all his career? I think he was playing at G due to owenu being on PUP all camp. But then again BB always likes the O lineman to be variable. Agreed our backups are XFL type players. No knock on XFL players but... yes Wheatley is an OT.. I'm thinking Trent, strange , Andrews, ownenu and sow are likely the week 1 starters. ?

 

[Grogan14]

Are you a Doctor?

The Pats used to get skunked drafting RBs, but these days good drafted RBs are coming out of the woodwork.

Yes, retired

 

[Patsgofor4]

4th rounder with 4.38 speed for an undrafted free agent oft injured who would likely be cut
More BB magic.

Can we agree that the Pats coaches know a lot more about Strong than you or anyone here? Good. They clearly didn’t like something about him or his fit in their offense once they got to know him. I suspect that he wasn’t progressing as a receiver and hadn’t shown the ability and/or willingness to pick up blitzing LBs/DBs.

The fact that Wheatley was an UDFA is irrelevant, given the fact that he was changing positions. How many times has a college TE been drafted as a OT without ever playing a OL snap?

Another question….name this player:

A fairly athletic tight end at more than 320 pounds, [player X] was seen as "a clone of former Denver Broncos giant Orsen Mobley." Since he registered far more knockdown blocks (61) than catches (21) in his last year in college, [player X] spent much time prior to the NFL Draft working O-line drills, preparing himself to be an offensive tackle for the NFL. He was projected as an early fourth round pick by Sports Illustrated, but eventually went undrafted.

 

[Wozzy]

I believe Strong is a good RB. It’s hard to get something for nothing in this league and the Browns saw value. We got an OT that has never played in a single regular season game however….he’s 26. This is not someone that is going to replace McDermott, Reiff or Anderson any time soon…or maybe never. Our starting OT’s won’t change because of this trade. My hope is he is better then Stueber at OT and can maybe be an in-line blocker at TE.

I don't know, they have two weeks to look at Wheatley. If they like what they see, Reiff might be put on IR, retire, or be cut outright.

Sow looks like the RT starter to me. Wheatley might end up being the third best OT on their roster and capable of being a better swingman than McDermott or Reiff ever could.

We won't know until they get him in the building, but he's coming from a good program and his preseason tape has been promising.

 

[SlowGettingUp]

This is not unreasonable as the anecdotes of heart-related maladies are becoming legion among seemingly healthy young people from the Covid jab.

Or from Covid itself - see Eduardo Rodriguez, the Red Sox pitcher who developed myocarditis after a Covid infection before any vaccines existed.