The Pittsburgh Steelers sit at pick 21 in the 2026 NFL Draft with a plethora of quality players to choose from. Pittsburgh has a ton of versatility in which position they choose first, as they have quite a few weaknesses, but ones where the position groups run deep in this draft. The team is looking for help in the receiver room and in their secondary, as they're seeking an elite presence next to their two stars on both sides of the ball, Joey Porter Jr. and DK Metcalf. However, a former teammate of Porter's could be available to the Steelers in the mid-rounds of the draft and could be an intriguing development piece for the Steelers' secondary.
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Safety Zakee Wheatley during his time at Penn State University.
Penn State safety Zakee Wheatley is one of the top safety prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft. Wheatley played five seasons in Happy Valley, where he became a mainstay in the Nittany Lions defense. Wheatley had the opportunity to enter himself in the draft last year after a breakout 2024 season; however decided to stay in State College. He put up numbers in both 2024 and 2025 that should have the Steelers intrigued. Those two years combined, he logged 170 total tackles, four interceptions, and five pass deflections. These two seasons are when Wheatley broke out and consistently saw the reps he needed to do so. The standout defensive back made the switch from cornerback to safety after his freshman season in 2021. In 2022, Wheatley was a full-time safety for Penn State.
The switch proved to be vital for Wheatley as he was able to come into his own throughout his college career. He brings a ton of speed and is able to play "center field." He is great in zone coverage and reading the eyes of the quarterback; he is also amazing in the run game. Wheatley could be a versatile chess piece for the newly hired defensive coordinator, Patrick Graham, as he can play both safety spots.
Wheatley, who was a teammate of Porter Jr., had a lot to say about his former teammate and a potential reunion.
"Joey Porter's my dog. I came into freshman year as a cornerback, so we were in the same room. I talk to him all the time," Wheatley said. "On the field, Joey was pretty gifted athletically, so just watching his reps every morning as a young athlete was pretty inspiring to me."
Porter and Wheatley spent two seasons together on the Penn State defense.
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After the obvious connection throughout the pre-draft process, the Steelers took Penn State cornerback Joey Porter Jr. with the 32nd overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
The two shared a bond, and a reunion is possible based on the Steelers' needs at the safety position.
Steelers Need To Address Safety In The NFL Draft
The Steelers have a clear weakness in the safety room ahead of the 2026 season that needs to be addressed through free agency and/or the NFL Draft. The Steelers' safety room, as of now, consists of Jalen Ramsey, who was being used as a hybrid corner and safety, and DeShon Elliott, who is coming off a season-ending ACL tear. The safety room is a very clear weakness as Pittsburgh's secondary needs to remain a strong point if the defense wants to remain competitive.
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Steelers safety DeShon Elliott walks off the field as Pittsburgh played a professional football game on the road.
The Steelers' safety room battled with inconsistencies last season after Elliott's injury. The team made a big move trading for soon free agent, Kyle Dugger midseason, and he could be on the way out. The Steelers experimented with Juan Thornhill and Chuck Clark, but neither of the two made a huge impact, with Thornhill actually being released midway through the 2025 season. The Steelers now lack depth in that department, and setting themselves up with a high-upside developmental piece like Wheatley could be the smart choice. The team lacks youth at the position and could look to add the safety of the future there.
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