Zakee Wheatley Turns Heads at Senior Bowl as Eagles Eye Safety Depth in 2026 Draft
With the Senior Bowl wrapped and draft season officially underway, the Philadelphia Eagles are already deep into their scouting process - and one name that’s starting to surface in their orbit is Penn State safety Zakee Wheatley.
The Eagles had a strong presence in Mobile, Alabama, where over 100 of the top prospects in the 2026 draft class showcased their skills in front of NFL coaches and scouts. Among them, Wheatley stood out - and not just because of his size or athleticism. According to a source, Philadelphia showed clear interest in the Nittany Lions standout during the week.
And it makes sense. Whether or not the Eagles bring back free agent Reed Blankenship, safety is a position they’re expected to address in April’s draft. The current depth chart features second-year safety Andrew Mukuba, but beyond that, there’s a need for long-term stability - and that’s where Wheatley could come in.
Wheatley enters the draft as one of the top safeties in a class that’s headlined by Ohio State’s Caleb Downs, a likely top-10 pick. But after Downs, there’s a tightly packed group of safeties jockeying for position - and Wheatley is firmly in that mix alongside Toledo’s Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Oregon’s Dillon Thieneman, and LSU’s A.J.
Haulcy. Depending on how the next couple of months unfold, he could very well be the second safety off the board.
What’s helped Wheatley’s stock rise is a combination of on-field production and offseason polish. His breakout came in 2024, when he piled up 96 tackles and earned Fiesta Bowl Defensive MVP honors in Penn State’s College Football Playoff quarterfinal win. That run ended in a narrow semifinal loss to Notre Dame, but Wheatley had already made his mark.
Despite the option to declare for the 2025 draft - or test the ever-active transfer portal - Wheatley chose to return to Penn State. That decision, rooted in loyalty to the program, gave him another year to grow, and he made it count. In 2025, he registered 74 tackles and earned an 85.9 grade from Pro Football Focus - eighth-best among FBS safeties with at least 650 snaps.
“I had a chance to leave and hop in the portal. We all know how crazy the portal is,” Wheatley said during the week in Mobile.
“But I never did that. I had my loyalty to Penn State ... and I wouldn’t go back and change that for anything.”
That loyalty - and his consistent play - has him trending upward at the right time. Wheatley was named the National Team’s Safety of the Week at the Senior Bowl, capping off a strong week of practice and interviews.
Next up: the NFL Scouting Combine, Penn State’s pro day in March, and private team visits. A top-30 visit with the Eagles wouldn’t be surprising, especially given their interest in Mobile.
Now, could the Eagles lean on a rookie to start next to Mukuba in what might be Vic Fangio’s final season as defensive coordinator? That’s a big ask.
A short-term deal for Blankenship could bridge the gap, especially if the price is right. But even if the veteran returns, Philadelphia will be thinking long-term - and Wheatley’s blend of physicality, instincts, and experience makes him a compelling option for the future.
He’s not just a name to watch - he’s a name that’s already on the Eagles’ radar. And after a strong showing at the Senior Bowl, Zakee Wheatley is making it harder and harder for teams to look away.