Tyrone Wheatley Jr.

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

The Atlanta Falcons secured decent depth value with Tyrone Wheatley Jr.'s $0.8M AAV deal, earning a C+ CVI that reflects a fair investment in offensive line insurance. At under $1 million annually, this represents the type of low-risk move teams make to bolster tackle depth without breaking the bank, though Wheatley Jr. falls into that middling tier of backup linemen who can fill a role but won't elevate the unit. The modest salary structure gives Atlanta flexibility while providing adequate protection against injuries to their starting tackles, typical of how teams approach the bottom half of their offensive line roster. This deal carries minimal financial risk given the low annual value, making it the kind of contract that won't hurt the salary cap even if Wheatley Jr. struggles to contribute meaningfully. The Falcons essentially paid replacement-level money for a replacement-level player, which represents sound roster management even if it doesn't move the needle competitively.

Performance Analysis

Tyrone Wheatley Jr. is a second-year offensive tackle with the Atlanta Falcons who remains very much a project in progress, having logged an undefined number of career appearances that speaks to just how little established ground he has covered at the professional level. For a position where durability and repetition are everything — where trust is built snap by snap, season by season — Wheatley Jr. has yet to accumulate the kind of sustained availability that separates developing linemen from reliable starters. His current performance grade of D+ reflects not necessarily a lack of physical tools, but rather the absence of consistent, high-level play and the developmental gaps that come with limited NFL exposure. At 29, the clock is ticking in a way that it wouldn't be for a younger prospect, and the Falcons will need to see meaningful steps forward if he is to carve out a legitimate role along their offensive front. Atlanta's investment in him at this stage of his career suggests the organization sees something worth developing, whether as a swing tackle option or an eventual starter in the right circumstance. The most important number for Wheatley Jr. going forward isn't a grade — it's games played, because until he proves he can stay on the field and perform at a consistent level, everything else remains theoretical. Watch to see whether he can secure a larger role in 2025 and begin building the kind of durability résumé that this position absolutely demands.

Current Sentiment

Tyrone Wheatley Jr. enters the 2026 offseason as a free agent after the Atlanta Falcons released him from their roster, a move confirmed by multiple outlets covering the team's transaction activity. The release came as Atlanta added veteran cornerback C.J. Henderson, signaling that the organization prioritized other positional needs over retaining the young offensive lineman. With just two years of NFL experience, a league-minimum contract, and no notable accolades to his name, Wheatley Jr. has yet to establish himself as a reliable starter or even a trusted depth piece at the professional level. Media perception is understandably muted and largely unfavorable, as the waiver news represents a concrete roster setback rather than a speculative rumor or ambiguous trade report. To rehabilitate his standing heading into 2026, Wheatley Jr. will need to secure a new opportunity — ideally with a team that can offer him developmental reps — and demonstrate the kind of consistent, high-level play that has so far eluded him at the NFL level.