2013 NFL Draft: Steelers, Buccaneers host Blidi Wreh-Wilson

Connecticut Huskies star cornerback Blidi Wreh-Wilson is receiving plenty of interest, and draft analyst and insider Tony Pauline reports that he is leaving his visit with the Pittsburgh Steelers and flying to Tampa for a visit with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers tomorrow. Both teams could use a cornerback, and the Steelers would hope for Wreh-Wilson to fall into their laps in the second round. Meanwhile, the Bucs are absolutely desperate for help at CB and are in a prime position to pick Wreh-Wilson off the board with their second-round pick.

Oct 6, 2012; Piscataway, NJ, USA; Connecticut Huskies cornerback Blidi Wreh-Wilson (5) prior to game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at High Point Solutions Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim O

Wreh-Wilson has been getting late first-round grades from ESPN, and they like to mock him to the New England Patriots and think he will stay in the region. The Patriots did take a look at Wreh-Wilson, as Bill Belichick scouted him out at UConn’s pro day. But I don’t think Wreh-Wilson’s tape backed up his length and athleticism, because he didn’t use his athletic ability to improve his ball skills and make plays on the ball. He’s not good enough in man coverage either, and that’s something I don’t think the Pats like.

He is, however, perfect in zone coverage and fair value in the second round of the draft. He’s not going to fall into the third round the way teams like the Bucs and Steelers need a corner, so the evaluations he turns in from the Bucs can help dictate where he goes. The Jacksonville Jaguars are also slated to work out Wreh-Wilson in the future, and they can either reach for him with their very early second-round pick or hope that he turns into a steal for them in the third round.

I will be especially interested to see how things develop for Blidi Wreh-Wilson with the Buccaneers, because he could be a really good fit for the Bucs. Scouts are really divisive on Wreh-Wilson’s draft stock, but what will certainly help him are intangibles. Wreh-Wilson is a smart player, and he has drawn leadership and character comparisons to Patriots young captain and budding star free safety Devin McCourty.

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