The Carolina Panthers have gotten ripped for a failed $54 million move.
The Carolina Panthers had the worst defense in NFL history last season, so they spent significant money to address it during the offseason.
They signed cornerback Jaycee Horn to a record-breaking contract extension and also made numerous key additions, such as defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton.
The Panthers signed Wharton to a three-year deal worth up to $54 million in free agency, hoping the former Kansas City Chiefs champion would bring a Super Bowl pedigree and some much-needed pass-rushing chops to Carolina.
Instead, Wharton had a rather rough season, and Bradley Locker of Pro Football Focus has dubbed Wharton the the Panthers' worst move of last spring.
"Carolina’s defensive investments included spending over $54 million to lure Wharton away from the Chiefs, but the transaction flopped in Year 1," Locker wrote. "Wharton played to a career-low 43.0 overall PFF grade with a 34.5 PFF run-defense grade. Moreover, his PFF pass-rush grade fell from 71.9 to 60.4."
Wharton managed 36 tackles and a couple of sacks in nine games, missing significant time due to a hamstring injury.
Carolina Panthers defensive lineman Tershawn Wharton. Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images.But even when the 27-year-old was healthy, it was clear that he did not have quite the same impact that he had with the Chiefs, where he played a significant role in Kansas City's 2023-24 Super Bowl title.
Wharton then posted 29 tackles, 6.5 sacks and 11 quarterback his during his final season with the Chiefs in 2024 and was viewed by many as one of the more underrated players on that squad.
While some initially viewed the Panthers' move for Wharton as an overpay, no one seemed to doubt that it was a good decision stylistically.
The undrafted defender does not have an out in his contract until after next season, so Carolina is stuck with him for now. He carries an $18.6 million cap hit for 2026, so hopefully, he performs a heck of a lot better next fall.
Due to Wharton's struggles in 2025, the Panthers may ultimately select a defensive tackle early on in the NFL Draft this April, although that's up in the air given Carolina's other roster needs. Plus, the Panthers also have Derrick Brown and Bobby Brown — the latter of whom was a much cheaper free-agent signing — on the interior.
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