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Ex-Chiefs Starter on a $54 Million Deal Gives Off “Buyer’s Remorse” Vibes After an Ugly Preseason Debut

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Charlotte, NC – Aug 16, 2025 — The Carolina Panthers paid big to bring in a former Kansas City Chiefs starter on a 3-year, $54 million contract, banking on immediate pass-rush juice. But Tershawn Wharton’s preseason debut raised eyebrows: a low grade, a spot among the game’s “losers” lists, and little in the way of steady pressure.

“It’s only preseason” — true. But with a major investment, optics are touchy: one flat night is enough to revive the lingering question often attached to Steve Spagnuolo’s Kansas City ecosystem: how much of the production travels, and how much was scheme-driven?


Why the Debut Looked “Cold”

  • Limited straight-up pressure: Wharton struggled to win 1-on-1s; inside counters didn’t land, leading to a low true-pressure rate.

  • Run-fit discipline issues: A few leverage/gap-integrity lapses suggest he’s not yet in sync with the new system’s demands.

  • Role shift: In KC, he benefited from stunts/twists, Chris Jones’s gravity, and aggressive one-gap usage. In Carolina, heavier 2-gap/5-tech asks may have muted his early strengths.


  • The Big Picture: Price, Fit, and the “Spags Effect”

    Carolina didn’t pay for a sack total; they paid for portable traits: first-step quickness, clean counters, and pocket disruption without heavy “games” around him. If those traits stand on their own, Wharton will bounce back. If the past production leaned heavily on Spags’ structure, the Panthers must adjust usage to “make Wharton” rather than waiting for Wharton to make everything happen solo.


    Plausible Adjustments (and Metrics to Track)

    • Dial up interior games (stunts/twists) on purpose; pair his rush with the unit’s alpha to bend protections.

  • More 3-tech/4i one-gap snaps in clear pass situations; reduce heavy 2-gap duties.

  • Process metrics over box score:

    • Alignment split (3-tech vs. 4i/5-tech)

  • Stunt/twist rate

  • Double-team rate

  • True pressure rate & run stops


  • Audience-Specific Takeaways

    For Panthers fans: Don’t overreact. This is the install period. Expect usage tweaks before judging talent.
    For Chiefs fans: Classic “Spags Tax” scenario — downstream rushers get paid elsewhere; KC keeps the machine.
    League-wide lens: A reminder to pay for portable traits, not just scheme-inflated production.


    Conclusion

    One preseason night won’t define a $54 million deal. But it sets a path: if Carolina tweaks the role to amplify Wharton’s best traits, sentiment can flip quickly. If not, the “buyer’s remorse” vibe will linger — not for lack of a single sack, but because of a gap between usage and what he does best.

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    Raiders Reunite with a Former Starter to Fortify the Offensive Line
    Las Vegas, NV   The Las Vegas Raiders have brought back a familiar face in a move that screams both urgency and savvy: versatile offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor is returning to the Silver & Black on a one-year deal (terms not disclosed), reuniting with the franchise where he logged some of the best football of his career and immediately fortifying a position group that has been stretched thin. Eluemunor, 31, started for the Raiders from 2021–2023, showing rare position flexibility across right tackle and guard while anchoring pass protection against premier edge rushers. His technique, anchor, and ability to handle long-arm power made him a steadying force during multiple playoff pushes. After departing Vegas, Eluemunor spent time elsewhere refining his craft, but a confluence of roster needs and scheme familiarity has set the stage for a timely homecoming. For the Raiders—fighting to keep pace in a rugged AFC—this is about stability and fit. Injuries and week-to-week availability on the right side of the line have forced constant shuffling; protection packages have leaned heavily on chips and condensed splits to survive obvious passing downs. Eluemunor’s return allows the staff to plug him at RT or slide him inside at RG, restoring balance to protections and widening the run-game menu (duo, inside zone, and the toss/ pin-pull that Vegas fans love when the edge is sealed). “Jermaine knows who we are and how we want to play,” a team source said. “He brings ballast. Assignment sound, physical, and smart—he raises the floor for the entire unit.” Beyond the X’s and O’s, there’s an unmistakable emotional charge to this reunion. Eluemunor was a locker-room favorite in his previous stint—professional, detail-driven, and accountable. The belief internally is that his presence stabilizes communication on the right side (IDs, slides, and pass-off rules vs. games and simulated pressures), which in turn unlocks more vertical concepts and keeps the quarterback cleaner late in games. On social media, Raider Nation lit up the timeline with a simple refrain: “Welcome back, Jem.” Many fans called the deal the exact kind of “rival-poach, ready-to-play” move a contender makes in October: low friction, high impact, zero learning curve. What it means on the field (immediately): Pass pro: Fewer emergency chips, more five-out releases—OC can re-open deeper intermediate shots without living in max-protect. Run game: Better edge control on toss/duo; more confidence running to the right on money downs. Depth & versatility: One injury doesn’t force a cascade of position changes; Eluemunor can cover two spots with starting-level competency. The timetable? Swift. Because Eluemunor already speaks the language—terminology, splits, cadence rules—he could suit up as early as this weekend if the medicals/check-ins continue to trend positive. The message is clear: the Raiders aren’t waiting around for the line to gel—they’re engineering it. If Jermaine Eluemunor plays to his Raider résumé, this reunion could be the precise mid-season jolt that steadies the offense and keeps the Silver & Black firmly in the postseason race. Raider Nation, the question writes itself: Plug-and-play stopgap—or the catalyst that reclaims the right side