Pats take Wheatley in 2nd round
Posted by Rick on April 26, 2008
As unexpected as the Patriots’ pick of Jerod Mayo was in the first round was, I have to give the pick high marks. Mayo fills a need, adds youth to the linebacking corps, and has a tremendous upside in the Patriots’ scheme.
With that said, the Pats’ selection of CB Terrence Wheatley in the second round just seems bizarre to me. While Wheatley is talented and fits the Patriots’ pattern of selecting smaller corners with fluid hips, this pick just doesn’t make any sense. Wheatley has a wrist that has been operated on three times and seems to be an injury risk. Additionally, there were better corners available to the Patriots at this point in the draft. And even if the Patriots wanted to get him, he would have almost certainly been available for one of the three third round picks that the Patriots hold. He was projected to go in the third or fourth round, so this seems like a huge reach.
Wheatley looks like a player who will potentially compete for a nickel spot and the special teams. We don’t need more players like this. Belichick must see something special about this kid, and I hope he is right, but as great a coach as Belichick is, he has not shown to be a wizard at the draft. I suspect this pick will be another case in point.
From NFL Draft Countdown:
Terrence Wheatley
Height: 5-95/8 | Weight: 187 | 40-Time: 4.37
Strengths:
Very fast with good quickness and a burst to close…A fantastic athlete with great agility…Smooth with fluid hips…Playmaker with good hands and ball skills…Smart with good instincts…Physical and always plays hard…Has special teams potential.
Weaknesses:
Does not have the ideal size or bulk that you’d prefer…Needs to get stronger…A marginal tackler…He’ll struggle when matched up against big pro wideouts…Has some pretty serious durability and health concerns…May not have a lot of upside.
Notes:
His father, Randolph, ran track at Arizona State…He was plagued by a wrist injury that required multiple surgeries early in his career…Probably profiles as more of a nickel or dime guy at the pro level…Good cover guy with solid intangibles who will be held back by his size…Will enjoy a nice career as a backup and special teamer.
Career Statistics
Year GP TKL PBU INT YDS
2003 6 24 5 0 0
2004 12 33 3 4 63
2005 DNP - - - -
2006 12 57 11 5 26
2007 10 42 10 5 65
Totals 40 156 29 14 154
NFLDC Comment: They needed a corner yet this was a reach, but then again who am I to question the Patriots?
