NFL Draft 2026: Safety medical report - Genesis Smith, Zakee Wheatley, Kamari Ramsey
Early-round safety options for the Lions
The following are 3 safeties who could go in Rounds 2 or 3 of the NFL draft. While this may seem high to take a safety, the Lions have major uncertainty at the position from a health standpoint. Kerby Joseph (knee), Brian Branch (Achilles), Thomas Harper (concussions), and Dan Jackson (leg) are all coming off season-ending injuries.
If the Lions decide to grab a top safety prospect, he’ll start right away because Branch isn’t expected until mid-season, and he may start long-term given Joseph’s worrisome knee issue.
Visit my full NFL 2026 draft prospect medical analysis page.
Medical concern level ranges from 0 (no concern) to 5 (might be worth the risk if the reward is high) to 10 (take him off your board, Brad).
(Ages in parentheses are at start of 2026 season and are factored into the concern level. Injury info and ages based on available public information and are unverified - subject to update. Games played data courtesy of sports-reference.com.)
Quick summary of medical concern levels
Genesis Smith, S (21?): active foot fracture? - 6/10
Zakee Wheatley, S (24): clean, age - 2/10
Kamari Ramsey, S (22): recent knee - 2/10
Genesis Smith, S (uncertain age, 21?) - Auburn
Projected round 2-3. #51 on Jeff Risdon board Feb 19. 42.5” vertical at combine, best among safeties. Did not run the 40.
Concern level 6/10 (pending age)
2025: 12/13 games. Right foot fracture in Game 5 and played through the entire season. Opted out of bowl.
2024: 12/12 games
2023: 13/13 games
At the combine, Smith revealed he played through a foot fracture in his final season. He had withdrawn from the Senior Bowl to manage the injury.
A common explanation for what may be going on is a Jones fracture which players often play through, but may end up needing surgery for. This was seen a couple years ago with Kool-Aid McKinstry and Johnny Newton who ended up with foot surgeries.
If it is indeed a Jones fracture, the notoriously poor blood supply in that area increases risk for malunion (non-healing bone) and refracture. There is a risk that a non-healing bone will impact his rookie season, and even beyond.
Medical will need to investigate the specifics of the foot fracture and estimate its short and long-term risk. The uncertainty pushes his concern level up.
His age is uncertain, but is presumably on the younger side which is a nice positive.
Smith collected 5 INT and 14 PBU in college.
Zakee Wheatley, S (24) - Penn State
Projected round 2-3. #55 on Jeff Risdon board Feb 19. 32.5” vertical at combine. Did not run the 40.
Concern level 2/10
2025: 12/13 games. Opted out of bowl.
2024: 16/16 games
2023: 13/13 games
2022: 13/13 games
2021: 4
Wheatley has been perfectly reliable the past 4 seasons and has no reports of injuries. The concern with him is his older age. He collected 6 INT and 6 PBU in college.
Kamari Ramsey, S (22) - USC
Projected round 2-3. #66 on Jeff Risdon board Feb 19. 4.47 40-yard dash at combine, 9th among safeties.
Concern level 2/10
2025: 9/13 games. Missed 1 game with food poisoning. Right knee injury ended his season.
2024: 11/13 games. Missed 2 games with unspecified injury, observed shaking his arm out.
2023: 11/13 games. Missed 1 game with unspecified injury.
2022: 4 games
The right knee injury is a concern as there are no details. But he did participate in the Senior Bowl and he performed very well with the athletic testing at the combine. Hopefully, this means that the knee injury was minor.
He finished college with 2 INT and 11 PBU.
If you would prefer the Lions wait until a later round to get a safety, here are 3 options…