Is Receiver Bryce Ford-Wheaton the Next Victor Cruz for Giants?

Can receiver Bryce Ford-Wheaton crack the Giants crowded receiver room?

Receiver Bryce Ford-Wheaton went undrafted this past April, with many speculating why. He wasn’t one of the top wide receivers in the class, but to some, he made a solid case to at least be drafted sometime during Day 3. Nevertheless, the Giants offered Ford-Wheaton an opportunity to show them his skillset, signing him as an undrafted free agent.

But this wasn’t just any undrafted free-agent signing. The interesting thing about Ford-Wheaton’s deal is that the Giants gave him $236,000 in guaranteed money, more than a full-season salary for a practice squad player. This indicates that the Giants believe they have something with the former West Virginia wideout.

The potential is evident in Ford-Wheaton’s game. Even before he had one of the best performances of any player at any position at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine, among those things to like about Ford-Wheaton’s game is that he combines prototypical size (6-foot0-3 ¾ inches, 221 pounds) with elite athleticism (4.38-second 40-yard dash, 41-inch vertical, 4.15-second short shuttle).

He also has solid ball skills, great competitiveness at the catch point, is a very physical blocker and can make highlight reel catches.

So why didn’t Ford-Wheaton go as high as Jonathan Mingo, who has a similar athletic profile? Ford-Wheaton’s hands are inconsistent, and his route running is still relatively unpolished. He also needs to stop the occasional fighting with the ball and let things come to him naturally.

His contested catch ability is unmatched, and he has a knack for making explosive plays. If Ford-Wheaton can clean up some technical things to his game, the Giants could potentially have something here.