The Patriots are doing their homework on the defensive backfield and receiver room, hosting Penn State safety Zakee Wheatley and a speedy receiver prospect on pre-draft visits. These additions to their 30-visit list signal where Eliot Wolf and Mike Vrabel see the most immediate gaps in 2026.
On the safety side, the need is real. The Patriots have depth at the position with Jaylinn Hawkins, Dell Pettus, Mike Brown, Kevin Byard III, Craig Woodson, Brenden Schooler, and John Saunders Jr. on the roster, but none of them screams game-changer. Wheatley's rangy profile — the kind of ball-hawking, athletic safety who can cover ground and play both high and low — addresses a dimension this secondary could use. Pairing that with a younger, faster secondary anchored by Christian Gonzalez and Marcus Jones starts to make sense architecturally.
The receiver visit is equally telling. Stefon Diggs and Romeo Doubs provide veteran markers, and DeMario Douglas has proven reliable, but the speed element has been inconsistent. This offensive system under Vrabel needs playmakers who can get vertical and create in space. A true track star at the position could unlock what Drake Maye is capable of throwing downfield. The depth behind the established names — Efton Chism III, Jalen Hurd, Jeremiah Webb, John Jiles, Mack Hollins, and Kayshon Boutte — doesn't scream dynamic enough for a championship window.
What's encouraging here is that the scouting department isn't reaching for needs; it's being specific. Penn State, specifically, has had consistent production at both positions. These feel like evaluated targets, not random Big Ten visits. The Patriots have hit on mid-round defensive backs before, and if Wolf can find someone with Wheatley's athletic ceiling in a premium position of need, that's roster construction done right.
Based on reporting from Pats Pulpit.