151
Zakee WheatleyS
Carolina Panthers. 4-year deal worth $4,890,452.
Signing bonus
$510,452
Guaranteed
$510,452
Year one, paid
$1,395,452
Year one, kept
$788,758
Whole contract, after taxes and the agent: 57% of the headline.
Where the money goes
Every 2026 NFL rookie earns the same $885,000 base salary in year one, paid in 18 weekly game checks. After taxes that is about $28,617 a week, during the season only. The real money for a pick like this is the $510,452 signing bonus, which lands as one lump sum.
Bonus checks are withheld at a flat 22% federal on the first $1 million and 37% above that, plus Medicare and state tax. Many states tax a signing bonus only where the player lives, which is why where a rookie lives the day it is paid can matter.
These figures assume he lives in North Carolina, files single, and pays a standard agent fee. Change any of that in the calculator to see your own version.
Quick answers
How much is Zakee Wheatley's rookie contract?+
Zakee Wheatley, pick 151 in the 2026 NFL draft, signed a 4-year contract worth $4,890,452 with the Carolina Panthers, including a $510,452 signing bonus.
How much does Zakee Wheatley take home after taxes?+
About $788,758 of the $1,395,452 paid in the first year, and about $2,783,947 of the full $4,890,452 contract, living in North Carolina and paying a standard agent fee. Estimates for education.
Contract figures from Spotrac, Over The Cap, and Hoops Rumors (2026). Take-home is a KeepMyCheck estimate using 2026 tax rules. Not affiliated with the player, team, or league. Education only.