Panthers rookie Zakee Wheatley ranks second among NFL safeties

Through six weeks of the 2026 NFL season, Carolina Panthers rookie safety Zakee Wheatley has earned an overall defensive grade of 89.8 from Pro Football Focus, ranking second among all NFL safeties. Drafted in the fifth round from Penn State, Wheatley has recorded 18 combined tackles, a forced fumble, and two pass deflections across four games, including three starts. In the Panthers' Week 6 victory against the Philadelphia Eagles, Wheatley achieved a career-high 52 defensive snaps and was rated as the top defensive player for his team in that matchup with a score of 85.7 from PFF. The Panthers are preparing for their Week 7 game as Wheatley leads the defensive unit in cumulative grade.

• 10:09 AMYahoo Sports — Panthers rookie is PFF's 2nd-highest graded player at his position