Zakee Wheatley tops PFF's rookie defensive grade table

Mansoor Delane and Genesis Smith are next above 83.0

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated 1h1 min read

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What happened: PFF's early rookie defensive grades list Zakee Wheatley first at 86.1 among players with at least 75 snaps. Mansoor Delane is second at 83.2, Genesis Smith third at 83.0 and Josiah Trotter fourth at 81.9.

Why it matters: Early grading tables can reshape attention around first-year defenders as snap counts climb deeper into the season. The cluster at the top also highlights how quickly multiple rookies have carved out meaningful roles on defense.

By the numbers: Minimum 75 snaps: Zakee Wheatley 86.1, Mansoor Delane 83.2, Genesis Smith 83.0, Josiah Trotter 81.9.

What to watch: Watch the next update to see whether Wheatley keeps the top spot as the sample grows. Another strong week could tighten or separate the gap among the leaders.

Sources

@PFF 2026-10-01T14:28:38.214318+00:00

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