FanPost

What is a Bust?

I've read many posts suggesting trade scenarios implicating Donte Whitner, heck even I did at one point! I decided to see how he measured up statistically to see if he should be kept and if he indeed had any value on the trade market.

Here's what I found:

Donte Whitner drafted #8, after 42 starts: 227 tackles, 4 Interceptions, 1Sack, 12 PDs, 2FF

Lets first look at two elite safeties:

Ed Reed drafted #24, after 105 starts: 387 tackles, 46 Interceptions, 5 Sacks, 99 PDs, 9FF (6xProBowls)

Troy Polamalu drafted #16, after 72 starts: 345 tackles, 20 Interceptions, 7 Sacks, 68 PDs, 7FF (5xProbowls)

Now lets look at 3 other safeties with a special link to Whitner:

Ko "the millionaire" Simpson drafted #105, after 27 starts: 127 tackles, 3 Interceptions, 1 Sack, 10 PDs, 1FF

Jim Leonhard undrafted, after 20 starts: 166 tackles, 4 Interceptions, 3.5 Sacks, 15 PDs, 2 FF

Brian Scott, drafted #55, after 45 starts: 339 tackles, 5 Interceptions, 6.5 Sacks, 25 PDs, 8 FF

Just for the heck of it, I threw in a backup safety drafted in the 7th round:

Micheal Johnson drafted #224, after 21 starts: 110 tackles, 3 Interceptions, 2 Sacks, 9 PDs, 1 FF

This is not a huge in depth analysis but I think it's pretty obvious that Whitner is definitely a bust at #8 overall.

The stat that really jumps out at me is the Passes Defensed (PDs), it shows me that he is definitely not a playmaker, not only does he not have many interceptions but 12 passes defensed in 42 starts is horrible. Then you figure, well if at least he's a tackling machine that should count for something but there too he is sorely lacking. One thing that I realized is that Brian Scott is way better at SS and I really hope they re-sign him. Scott might not be a playmaker but he definitely is a solid SS compared to Whitner.

One thing is certain, Whitner was a bust at #8 and now I am realizing that nobody in his right mind would give us squat for him in a trade. His only value is the fact that he can play both safety positions and nickle. I think we should let him play out his contract and keep him as depth.

Just another great fan opinion shared on the pages of BuffaloRumblings.com.