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

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.

    Eagles Head Coach Announces A.J. Brown To Start On The Bench For Standout Rookie After Poor Performance vs. Broncos
      Philadelphia, PA — the Philadelphia Eagles’ head coach confirmed that A.J. Brown will start on the bench in Week 6 against the New York Giants, with the boundary starting spot going to rookie WR Taylor Morin—an undrafted signing out of Wake Forest who flashed through rookie camp and the preseason. The decision follows an underwhelming offensive showing against the Denver Broncos, where several snaps highlighted the unit being out of sync between Brown and Jalen Hurts. On a midfield option route, Hurts read Cover-2 and waited for an inside break into the soft spot, while Brown maintained a vertical stem and widened to the boundary to stretch the corner. The ball fell into empty space and the drive stalled. On a separate red-zone snap, a pre-snap hot-route signal wasn’t locked identically by the pair, resulting in a hurried throw that was broken up. The staff treated it as a reminder about route-depth precision, timing, and pre-snap communication—the micro-details that underpin the Eagles’ offense when January football arrives. Starting Morin is part of a plan to re-establish rhythm: the early script is expected to emphasize horizontal spacing, short choice/option concepts, and over routes off play-action to probe the Giants’ responses. Morin—who has shown strong hands in tight windows and clean timing in the preseason—should give the call sheet a steadier platform, while Brown will be “activated” in high-leverage downs such as 3rd-and-medium, two-minute, and red zone to maximize his body control, early separation, and the coverage gravity that can force New York to roll coverage. Facing the tough call, Brown kept his response brief but competitive:“I can’t accept letting a kid take my spot, but I respect his decision. Let’s see what we’re saying after the game. I’ll practice and wait for my chance. When the ball is in the air, everyone will know who I am.” Operationally, the staff is expected to streamline the call sheet between Hurts and Brown: standardize option-route depths, clearly flag hot signals, and increase game-speed reps in 7-on-7 and team periods so both are “seeing it the same and triggering the same.” Handing the start to Morin also resets the locker-room standard: every role is earned by tape and daily detail—even for a star of Brown’s caliber. If Brown converts the message into cleaner stems and precise landmarks—catching the ball at the spot and on time—the Eagles anticipate early returns: fewer dead drives, better red-zone execution when back-shoulder throws and choice routes are run “in the same language,” and an offense that regains tempo before taking on Big Blue. With Taylor Morin in the opening script, Philadelphia hopes the fresh piece is enough to jump-start the attack from the first series.