Tag: Michael Wiley

Two undrafted rookies keep showing up for the Commanders

Two undrafted rookies continue to stand out and have an excellent shot of making the 53-man roster.

We are closing in one month since the Washington Commanders opened training camp. The Commanders have played two preseason games and have one remaining before general manager Adam Peters and Dan Quinn trim the roster to 53.

Peters and his staff will have some difficult decisions to make. Will he move on from any of Ron Rivera’s first-round picks? That seems unlikely. How many former Rivera picks will be left? How many offensive linemen will the Commanders keep? What about cornerback?

Also, how many of Washington’s 12 undrafted rookies will Peters keep? The Commanders spent big on UDFAs after the draft, with quarterback Sam Hartman, cornerback Chigozie Anusiem and safety Tyler Owens among the most prominent signings.

Hartman had a good summer before he was injured late in the first preseason game. He seemed always to be ticketed for the practice squad. Anusiem has been solid. However, Owens has been one of Washington’s camp standouts.

In reviewing each preseason game, Owens made our list of studs in both games. While the Commanders have depth at safety, Owens has firmly put himself in the conversation as a player Washington cannot afford to expose to waivers. He’s stood out defensively and on special teams.

He’s not the only undrafted rookie to stick out.

Running back Michael Wiley looks like he could steal the No. 3 running back job away from Chris Rodriguez Jr. Wiley has done a little bit of everything this summer. He’s shined as a runner and receiver out of the backfield. His most important attribute, though, may be his pass protection. Most rookie running backs struggle in pass protection. Wiley embraces it — and thrives.

Quinn has mentioned both young players unprompted multiple times in recent weeks. That doesn’t reveal the team’s plans but gives you a glimpse into what the head coach thinks of their ability.

Here’s Quinn’s comments on Owens and Wiley recently, courtesy of Ben Standig of The Athletic.

The Commanders may be able to sneak Wiley onto the practice squad. It won’t be easy with Owens. His size/speed combination and his upside make Owens a prime target to star on special teams while he continues to develop as a safety.

These two will be players to watch in Sunday’s preseason finale against New England.

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: RB Michael Wiley, Arizona

How does this adept receiving back translate to the NFL?

Arizona Wildcats running back Michael Wiley heads to the pro ranks after five seasons at the FBS level, thanks to a deferred year of eligibility following the pandemic.

Universities weren’t exactly beating down his door coming out of high school as a three-star recruit, and he profiles as a similarly modest NFL prospect. Wiley has demonstrated a nose for the end zone, boasts soft hands in the aerial game, and a wealth of game experience to step in as a Day 1 complementary piece.

Height: 5-foot-10 1/2
Weight: 210 pounds
40 time: 4.51 seconds

The 2022 All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention probably won’t come off the draft board until Day 3, and he’s reminiscient of a slightly less athletic Kenyan Drake. Such a career path should be considered a win when all is said and done.

Table: RB Michael Wiley, Arizona (2019-23)

Year School Class Gm Att Yds Avg TD Rec Yds TD
2019 Ariz Fr 12 31 106 3.4 0 18 165 0
2020 Ariz So/C19 5 31 222 7.2 3 8 33 0
2021 Ariz So 11 91 302 3.3 2 33 297 4
2022 Ariz Jr 11 113 771 6.8 8 36 349 3
*2023 Ariz Sr 10 70 311 4.4 3 28 306 5
Total 49 336 1,712 5.1 16 123 1,150 12

*includes postseason/bowl games (stats from Sports Reference)
C19: player gained extra year of eligibility due to COVID-19 pandemic

Pros

  • Quicker than fast, ranking in the top 79% of RB 10-yard splits but the bottom 49% in 40-yard times at the combine
  • Slashing style in the open field pays off well in the screen game
  • Hands — above-average receiver who can contribute on three downs or as a standalone third-down back
  • Lines up anywhere on the field and is well-versed with screens, swings and wheel routes
  • Patient when allowing blocks to develop in the open field
  • Effort blocker who displays enough in the way of fundamentals to further develop this area of his game
  • Efficient production as a limited contributor — proficient scorer in relation to his opportunities
  • Ample tread left on the tires after a small workload

[lawrence-related id=488487]

Cons

  • Upright runner whose contact balance suffers for it — doesn’t power through as many breakable tackles as expected
  • Lacks a second gear and top-end speed to run away from defenders
  • Low upside and older than most rookies at a position with a short shelf life
  • Eyes sometimes betray his athletic profile

Fantasy football outlook

There’s little doubt Wiley will find a home in the NFL that gives him a chance to contribute just enough in fantasy to deserve attention, though most likely in the short term.

The best-case scenario is he lands in a fortuitous spot to be the 1b in a tandem approach in which he’s the receiving option who gets an occasional crack from inside the 5-yard line. All of that could occur as soon as 2024, but his long-range outlook is weak for those in dynasty formats … thanks to being a fifth-year senior at a position known for chewing up and spitting out players after just a handful of seasons.