Panthers Rookie Power Rankings: Zakee Wheatley Makes His Move

Monroe Freeling has been perfectly serviceable through two weeks. The rookie right tackle is playing a larger role than he was expected to, and he’s handling it perfectly fine.

Freeling has earned a 66.6 PFF grade through Week 2, which ranks 32nd out of 66 qualified tackles. Freeling has allowed two sacks and has been penalized once. Not great production, but not too shabby either. Freeling is still the most important rookie.

2. DL Aaron Hall

Aaron Hall has been phenomenal with the Panthers. The Duke product impressed the team after going undrafted, and he’s already worked himself into a big role with the team.

Notably, Hall has outplayed second-round rookie Lee Hunter. Hall played more snaps in Week 2, and flat-out looks much better on the field. Hall is currently third among all rookies in total pressure. This is a guy who will be a difference-maker for the Panthers for the foreseeable future.

3. DB Zakee Wheatley

Talk about a tale of two weeks. Zakee Wheatley was a healthy scratch in Week 1, and then was a key contributor in Week 2. Against the Falcons, Wheatley played 31 snaps and earned an elite 93.7 grade from PFF, which was the highest grade on the team.

Wheatley ended the day with five tackles and showed that he can be a reliable contributor. He soars up the rankings this week because of that performance.

4. DB Will Lee III

Will Lee III has had an up-and-down beginning to his NFL career. The corner was great in the summer, then bad in the preseason and in Week 1. However, Lee did have a little bounce-back in Week 2.

Lee picked up two tackles and two pass breakups against the Falcons. The rookie’s PFF grade improved to 62.2 overall, which is certainly passable.

5. QB Haynes King

We haven’t seen Haynes King on the field yet during the regular season. However, when we saw him last, he was awesome. King is an intriguing mix of talented passer and dynamic athlete. It will be interesting to see if he gets on the field at all as a rookie.

6. DL Lee Hunter

Lee Hunter is in a free-fall down this list. Hunter has frankly been disappointing since arriving in Charlotte. The rookie didn’t do anything in the preseason or training camp to get excited about, and he’s been bad in Week 1 and Week 2.

Hunter has plenty of time to turn it around, but he hasn’t even been the best rookie defensive lineman on the team so far. Super disappointing.

7. C Sam Hecht

Sam Hecht hasn’t gotten many opportunities just yet. The rookie lineman lost the starting job battle to veteran Luke Fortner, and Fortner has been fine so far.

Hecht has seen 11 snaps so far as a pro. That’s a very small sample size, but Hecht did get a nice 70 grade as a pass blocker.

8. LB Jackson Kuwatch

Jackson Kuwatch was drafted to be a special teams ace and that’s exactly what track he’s on. Kuwatch has played 66% of the Panthers’ special teams snaps so far and 13% of the defensive snaps.

9. OL Albert Reese

Albert Reese is a project tackle who impressed enough to stick around as a UDFA. Reese has been a healthy scratch both weeks so far. When Ikem Ekwonu and/or Taylor Moton get back, Reese is probably headed to the practice squad.