Jeffery Whatley: What the Browns are getting in their UDFA DT from South Alabama
The 2020 NFL season is gradually coming up closer and closer and we are still diving into the Browns undrafted free agent crop. One of the last guys to get signed in this group is a smaller-school interior defensive lineman that doesn’t get talked about enough.
The Browns are trying to get a strong rotation in the middle and it will be interesting to see if the big new guy can hang.
Name: Jeffery Whatley
Position: Defensive Tackle
School: South Alabama
Height: 6-1
Weight: 300 pounds
Strengths: Whatley was a big-time recruit for South Alabama and he lived up to the hype. He actually grew into a more complete player after gaining over forty pounds during his collegiate career. Whatley saved his best for last as he tallied 39 tackles and 4.5 sacks as a senior. He will offer unique versatility as he played on the edge for South Alabama. Whatley was named honorable mention All-Sun Belt by PFF after his outstanding senior campaign.
Weaknesses: Whatley was not drafted for a reason and honestly him not being selected was not a surprise to anyone. He does not have the athleticism needed to stay on the outside in the NFL and lacks the ideal anchor you look for on the interior, which gives him a bit of a tweener label. We mentioned him being a late bloomer as a positive above, but it is also a negative it took Whatley four years to be a real stud in the Sun Belt Conference.
Overall: It is going to be a real uphill battle for Whatley to make this roster despite the defensive tackle position being so thin for the Browns. He could develop into a reserve, bottom-of-the-roster type, but it is unfair to expect him to be a regular contributor. Perhaps the Browns see some untapped potential considering his senior performance was his best and he does have a large frame that may allow for more weight.
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