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2026 NFL Draft: Panthers pick Penn State's Zakee Wheatley to patrol secondary
TL;DR
The Carolina Panthers selected Penn State safety Zakee Wheatley in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. This decision follows their earlier choice of offensive lineman Monroe Freeling and aims to strengthen their secondary.
Key points
- Panthers selected Zakee Wheatley in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft
- They also drafted Monroe Freeling earlier for the offensive line
- The team traded up seven spots to make the selection
Zakee WheatleyMonroe FreelingDillon ThienemanCarolina Panthers
2026 NFL Draft: Panthers pick Penn State's Zakee Wheatley to patrol secondary originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Reports circulated during the days leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft that Carolina Panthers general manager Dan Morgan targeted Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman as a potential first-round selection.
Morgan passed on the opportunity and addressed the offensive line by taking top prospect Monroe Freeling.
With Tre'von Moehrig and Nick Scott expected to hold down the starting positions again in 2026, the Panthers have invested draft capital over the past two seasons to provide positional depth.
After Morgan engineered his third trade Saturday, the Panthers moved up seven spots to No. 151 in the fifth round to select Penn State safety Zakee Wheatley. The Panthers also acquired the Miami Dolphins' seventh-round pick (No. 227) and surrendered picks No. 158 and 200 in the sixth round.
Last season, the Panthers drafted ex-Ohio State standout Lathan Ransom with the No. 122 overall pick. Ransom had an up-and-down rookie campaign.
Panthers add S Zakee Wheatley in fifth round
Q&A
Who did the Carolina Panthers draft in the 2026 NFL Draft?
The Carolina Panthers drafted Zakee Wheatley, a safety from Penn State, in the fifth round.
What trades did the Panthers make during the 2026 NFL Draft?
The Panthers moved up seven spots to No. 151 in the fifth round to select Zakee Wheatley and also acquired the Miami Dolphins' seventh-round pick.
Why did the Panthers choose Zakee Wheatley over Dillon Thieneman?
The Panthers opted for Zakee Wheatley to enhance their secondary depth, despite earlier reports linking them to Dillon Thieneman.