Before the 2025 season started, safety seemed to be a need for the Jacksonville Jaguars. During training camp, they held a three-way battle for the starting spot opposite Eric Murray. Andrew Wingard came on top, but Antonio Johnson had a breakout year, registering five interceptions, tied for the most on the team.
With Johnson emerging last year, the Jags appear to be set at safety. Sure, Andrew Wingard left for the Arizona Cardinals on a one-year deal. But even without him, they're not in immediate need of upgrades. This is why their pick in CBS Sports' latest mock draft came as a bit of a surprise.
The Jaguars pick safety Zakee Wheatley in CBS Sports' latest mock draft
Josh Edwards of CBS Sports did a three-round mock draft and had the Jaguars taking Zakee Wheatley. Although he doesn't offer a reason for the selection, the former Penn State Nittany Lion would be an intriguing option if Jacksonville opts for the best-player-available route.
A three-star recruit out of high school, Wheatley was a mainstay of the Penn State defense, registering four interceptions and five passes defensed the past two years.
Although Wheatley needs to hone his tackling skills, he possesses great tracking skills, and his ability to read the quarterback puts him in a great position to make plays. He's projected to go in Round 2 and has been compared to All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton during the draft process.
Of course, that's just a projection, but Wheatley has the tools to develop into a game-changer at the NFL level. Heck, this isn't the first mock draft in which the Jags take him. The difference is that he slides to the third round.
But given how much upside Wheatley comes, he may be gone by the time the Jags pick in Round 3. That may be why they roll with him in the second round in CBS Sports' mock.
And in case you were wondering, Jacksonville takes pass rusher Derrick More (Michigan), offensive lineman Caleb Tiernan (Northwestern), and defensive tackle Chris McClellan (Florida) with its three picks in Round 3. All three would add depth at key positions.
Why it would make sense for the Jaguars to draft Zakee Wheatley
Even after the exit of Andrew Wingard, the Jaguars are set at safety. Antonio Johnson should be a lock to start next to Eric Murray, but 2025 third-round pick Caleb Ransaw will also be in the mix after suffering a season-ending injury last year.
Sophomore Rayuane Layne also flashed when he was thrust into action last year and gives the Jags a valuable depth piece. That said, having a player of Zeeke Wheatley would give the Jacksonville secondary a massive boost. The issue is that he could be a luxury pick in Round 2. After all, defensive tackle and the pass rush are bigger priorities right now.
On top of that, the Jags could use depth at cornerback and across the offensive line. When you add it all up, Zakee Wheatley may not be a viable option in Round 2, but if he somehow manages to slide, the Jaguars shouldn't hesitate to use one of their three picks in Round 3 to take him.