NY Giants Rookie Report: What are Bryce Ford-Wheaton's chances to make the team?
EAST RUTHERFORD - The Bryce Ford-Wheaton hype train was rolling down the tracks and being driven by many New York Giants fans before the undrafted wide receiver from West Virginia caught a pass from Tommy DeVito, let alone Daniel Jones or Tyrod Taylor.
Ford-Wheaton had not even been assigned a jersey number yet - he's wearing No. 6, by the way.
Expectations were so out of control, one of the veteran beat reporters covering the Giants for more than a decade took to social media and told any fans listening to "pump the brakes" when predicting the impact Ford-Wheaton would have in the quest for targets, considering his NFL journey had just begun.
Yeah, that was me.
But something happened on the way to commanding the spotlight as a receiver for Ford-Wheaton, and admittedly I overlooked the possibility: The 23-year-old rookie impressed as a punt coverage gunner on special teams first.
"If you want to stay here and make it in the league, you have no choice but to get better in something you do every day. That has to be the plan," Ford-Wheaton told NorthJersey.com as he walked out of the Giants' locker room at MetLife Stadium for the first time last Friday night. "Give everything I’ve got, and I feel like I’ve laid it all out on the line to this point. I think I’ve given myself a chance."
There's no doubt Ford-Wheaton has given himself a chance, as evidenced by the shout out he received from Giants general manager Joe Schoen on the TV broadcast of Friday's 21-19 preseason win over the Panthers.
The Giants opened training camp with two good options as their gunners, but defensive back Nick McCloud has missed the last two weeks due to injury and safety Jason Pinnock has grabbed hold of the starting job on defense next to Xavier McKinney.
That has allowed younger players conceivably on the roster bubble to step up and show what they can do in roles unfamiliar to them previously. For Ford-Wheaton, he got the message from the coaches back in the spring, and took the challenge to heart.
"If they don't do it [on special teams], they're not going to be on the team," Giants coach Brian Daboll said Saturday. "So, that's job security or not having it, and that's the reality of it."
Listed at 6-foot-3 and 224 pounds, Ford-Wheaton represents yet another prospect the Giants liked in their pre-draft evaluation despite underwhelming production on the field. Sixth-round cornerback Tre Hawkins III has run with the first team for much of the summer. So has seventh-round defensive tackle Jordon Riley.
What are Ford-Wheaton's chances of making the 53-man roster with final cuts looming Aug. 29? At this point, it's a numbers game at WR, and he's someone the Giants would want to develop, certainly on the practice squad if he were to clear waivers.
If Ford-Wheaton can give the Giants another option at gunner, perhaps allowing Pinnock to focus on his defensive duties, then the MFW hype train might just keep rolling to the game day roster. The Giants could go up to seven players at the position, which means Ford-Wheaton would likely have to squeeze out one of the veterans - Cole Beasley might be the most vulnerable right now having missed last week with a leg injury - to secure a spot on 53.
"When I got here, they were playing me everywhere on special teams, even spots where I had never played before," Ford-Wheaton said. "I was willing to learn and take the coaching, and I feel like that’s paid dividends because I’ve definitely grown on special teams. I didn’t play gunner in college, but Coach T-Mac [special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey] has trusted me to go out there and show my abilities."
Ford-Wheaton is making the most of them, and he could be in line to get even more opportunities at his natural position against the Jets.
"I feel like I’ve put my best foot forward, but that has to be every week, every day, every play," Ford-Wheaton said. "There were a lot of nerves for that first NFL game [in Detroit]. I was able to come back and this week [against the Panthers], I felt good out there. We were clicking and that’s always what you want. We’ll see what happens, but I won’t have any regrets with my effort. This is where I want to be."
Here's a look at where the rest of the Giants' rookie class - undrafted players included - stands heading into the final week of the preseason and Saturday night's finale against the Jets:
Deonte Banks, CB
The first-round pick had a quiet game against the Panthers, and for a cornerback, that's a good thing. He's solidified his spot on the boundary with the first-team defense, and his tackling has been an impressive part of his game.
John Michael Schmitz, C
Schmitz has for all intents and purposes won the competition at center. He played really well in one half of action against the Panthers, and continues to show physicality at the point of attack with a willingness to seek out blocking targets at the second level. There haven't been any communication issues of which to speak, either.
Jalin Hyatt, WR
Hyatt scored his first touchdown as a professional Friday night, using a sneaky good fake at the top of his route to leave Panthers safety Eric Rowe in the dust. Even more impressive, though, was the way Hyatt responded after dropping a pass on the previous play. Also says something about the trust he has earned from the coaches.
Eric Gray, RB
Gray displayed some veteran savvy on a kickoff return when he allowed a bouncing kick to go out of bounds rather than scrambling out of an obligation to return it. The ball kicked out at the 1 and gave the Giants possession at the 40. He later displayed toughness in an aggressive a 9-yard touchdown run. His key to getting offensive chances will hinge on his ability to clean up some lapses in pass protection.
Jordon Riley, DT
Riley continues to be one of the most pleasant surprises on the entire roster. He has earned snaps with the first-team and excelled against Carolina with a pair of run stops for losses, including a fourth-down tackle behind the line of scrimmage to turn the Panthers over on downs.
Tre Hawkins III, CB
Hawkins seized the moment with the first-team defense early in training camp and has not looked back. The Giants are relying on the former Old Dominion star as a starter outside with Banks, kicking Adoree' Jackson inside to the slot depending on the matchups. You can bet with the Cowboys set to use CeeDee Lamb in the slot on opening night that this is something the Giants are seriously contemplating.
Gervarrius Owens, S
Owens' arrow is pointing up. He missed time early in camp with injury, but has quickly picked up his game over the past two weeks. He brings some punch from the back end, and has the skill set to contribute on special teams, too. Owens played 47 snaps against the Panthers, including eight on special teams.
Tommy DeVito, QB
The work Daboll, OC Mike Kafka and QB coach Shea Tierney have done with DeVito is startling when you can go back and remember the DeVito who arrived as a UDFA back in rookie mini camp. Now we see his arm talent. not to mention his gutsy and decisive play in two preseason games. He might just have a home here on the PS with a chance to continue to develop.
Dyontae Johnson, ILB
Johnson logged a lot of snaps in the first preseason game, but he still looks the part of a developmental prospect headed to the practice squad.
Habakkuk Baldonado, OLB
Baldonado has flashed at times in the two preseason games, and with some time on the practice squad, the undrafted rusher from Pittsburgh could wind up being in the mix for game day call-ups down the road this season.
Ryan Jones, TE
It's a stacked position group here, and it's an understatement to say Jones has his work cut out for him. That includes a PS spot, given the possibility that Tommy Sweeney and Chris Myarick could land there as veterans as well.
Alex Cook, S
In previous years, Cook might have already played his way onto the 53-man roster. With a deeper group now, including two draft picks (Dane Belton and Owens) and a veteran in Bobby McCain, it'd be a win for Cook to make the PS and stay here with more time to develop.
Gemon Green, CB
Green may get more chances in the preseason finale with the departure of Rodarius Williams, who was released Saturday. The former Michigan standout has endured some ups and downs this summer in coverage, which is to be expected.
Cameron Lyons, LS
Lyons may get a bulk of the playing time against the Jets, and that'll be his chance to put good play on tape. He had just one snap to Casey Kreiter's five vs. the Panthers.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NY Giants Rookie Report: Where does the Class of 2023 stand right now?
