Tershawn

Wharton

Wharton’s contract is fully guaranteed. The veteran defensive tackle totaled two sacks, 17 pressures, and one fumble recovery in 17 games last season and will now head into his fifth straight year with the Chiefs. Wharton has been utilized heavily on passing downs and will likely play in a similar role next season.

The Chiefs are already without Chris Jones, who continues to be away from the team amidst a contract dispute. With that being said, Wharton is listed as the top defensive tackle on the depth chart, and will be tasked with filling the massive void left by Jones, who is currently not expected to report ahead of Thursday’s Week 1 matchup against the Chiefs. A limited practice for Wharton to start the week is enough to suggest he’s trending on the right side of playing barring any setbacks.

The fourth-year pro has a chance to carve out additional work along the defensive line after starting only two games across his first three seasons in the league, particularly considering the abundance of turnover expected outside of George Karlaftis and Chris Jones. The one-year “prove it” deal signals little in the way of risk for the Chiefs but keeps a player familiar with the system. An, albeit small, domino to fall in what should be an aggressive offseason for the Chiefs’ defense.