Defensive lineman Tershawn Wharton could “exceed expectations in free agency,” according to FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz.
The former undrafted free agent will be looking to cash in after a career year in Kansas City. The market has placed a premium on interior pass-rushers in recent years, so Wharton should be able to negotiate a strong deal this spring.
Wharton was listed by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler as an under-the-radar free agent and the third-best interior rusher in the class behind Osa Odighizuwa and Milton Williams. Now that Odighizuwa is staying in Dallas, Wharton will likely have even more suitors.
Wharton spent the first four years of his career with the Chiefs after making the 53-man roster as an undrafted rookie in 2020. He quickly carved out a role along the defensive line, appearing in every game and playing over 1,000 snaps across his first two seasons. A torn ACL knocked Wharton out for most of 2022, but he rebounded for a full season in 2023. The Chiefs won Super Bowls in both years, and Wharton nearly helped them to another in 2024 while playing the best football of his career. His 6.5 sacks, seven tackles for loss, and 667 snaps in the regular season were all career-highs, and he added two more sacks in the postseason.
That pass-rushing upside will allow Wharton to stand out among his fellow free agents, who typically profile as interior run-stuffers. Wharton will only be 27 years old when next season starts and can already push the pocket and get to opposing quarterbacks. He was surrounded by talent in Kansas City and had significantly less production before 2024, which will likely keep him from breaking into the upper echelon of contracts at his position. He may be best served by a two-year contract from which he can negotiate a higher-paying extension if he matches or improves on his 2024 numbers in 2025.