The New York Giants believe they have a find in former West Virginia wide receiver Bryce Ford-Wheaton, who they signed after he went undrafted this spring.
BFW, as he is being referred to, has had a solid camp but is in a dogfight for a roster spot this summer as the Giants have a slew of high draft picks and veterans in front of him on the depth chart.
Ford-Wheaton’s official line in the Giants’ first two preseason games is two catches for 24 yards on five targets with a very noticeable drop. Both of his receptions, however, went for first downs.
Bryce Ford-Wheaton tough catch pic.twitter.com/vStmplqqGq
— Bobby Skinner (@BobbySkinner_) August 19, 2023
If BFW has any designs of seeing his name on the 53-man roster after next Tuesday’s cutdowns, he might have to prove his mettle on special teams. So far, he’s impressed. Not as a returner, but as a gunner and in other areas.
“The obvious with Bryce is just size, speed. He’s 6-foot-4, he’s 225 pounds, or 230, whatever he is, and runs 4.40,” Giants special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey told reporters on Wednesday.
“Those measurables are pretty special. Whenever you can get — and with him, he’s a very mature rookie. He goes about his business very professionally, he comes into meetings, he works his tail off, he’s attentive, and he wants to learn. So, when you have those qualities — smart, tough, dependable — and just those physical attributes, he has a really, really big upside, I think.”
But is upside going to get this young stud a job? Not likely. Any player who is not a starter on offense or defense has to prove their value as a special teamer.
Should the Giants waive BFW on Tuesday, he has to pass through waivers in order to sign him to the practice squad but the odds are in favor of some other team claiming and adding him to their 53-man squad.
The upcoming preseason game against the Jets this Saturday night is an important one to Ford-Wheaton and many others. With a strong performance, he can make his case for the 53. If not, he might end up being an unfortunate casualty of circumstance.
