The Carolina Panthers may have found one of the biggest steals of the 2026 NFL Draft in safety Zakee Wheatley.
After another impressive day in the Panthers' win over the Philadelphia Eagles, it's getting harder to believe 150 players were drafted before him.
Wheatley finished with four tackles and two pass breakups, along with a fourth-quarter deflection on a fourth-and-17 pass intended for wide receiver DeVonta Smith.
Zakee Wheatley is already outperforming his Carolina Panthers' draft standing
In that same game, Wheatley and fellow rookie Will Lee III became the first pair of Carolina teammates in franchise history to record at least four tackles and two passes defended in the same contest.
What makes Wheatley's emergence even more exciting is how well his skill set fits what Carolina wants to do defensively.
At Penn State, the 6-foot-3 safety showed the ability to play just about everywhere in the secondary. That versatility was a major reason the Panthers were interested in him.
Carolina entered the season with Tre'von Moehrig, Nick Scott, and Lathan Ransom on the defensive back end. Now, Wheatley's emergence gives the coaching staff another option, and potentially someone who could hold down a starting job for years.
He still has plenty to prove, of course.
Four games is a pretty small sample size, and opposing offenses will have more opportunities to test Wheatley as the season progresses. But the fact that he's already contributing at this level is encouraging enough.
Carolina Panthers must be thrilled with Zakee Wheatley's early returns
The Panthers have invested heavily in improving their defense over the past two offseasons, adding established veterans while also trying to develop younger players through the draft.
Finding a potential long-term starter in the fifth round would be a massive win for general manager Dan Morgan, especially at a position where Carolina has sought consistency.
And Wheatley doesn't appear particularly interested in getting caught up in the early praise.
"It's a blessing to be here and I'm blessed to be in the position," Wheatley told reporters, according to The Charlotte Post, before explaining that he's focused on improving rather than paying attention to his Pro Football Focus grades.
For Panthers fans, there's every reason to be excited.
Wheatley has already exceeded what most would reasonably expect from a fifth-round pick through four games. If he continues playing anywhere near this level, Carolina may have solved one of its long-term defensive needs for a fraction of the cost.
And considering how quickly he's earned a prominent rotational role, it's fair to wonder just how much better he could get with more experience.
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