The Carolina Panthers have carved out some breathing room under the cap just before the 2026 NFL season gets underway.
According to Spotrac, Carolina reworked defensive tackle TerShawn Wharton’s contract by converting $12.2 million of his salary into a signing bonus and adding three void years. The move created $9.7 million in 2026 cap space, giving the Panthers more flexibility if they need to make additions during the season.
For general manager Dan Morgan, that kind of maneuver can matter once the games start and roster needs become clearer. The Panthers now have a little more room to operate, and the timing suggests the front office wanted to make sure the club was cap compliant before the opener.
Wharton’s deal now has two years and $28.85 million left after the restructure. If Carolina were to move on from him after the season, it would leave $14.7 million in dead money and save $7.4 million in cap space. The Panthers could also simply keep him on the roster and let the contract play out.
At the moment, Carolina is under the cap by $5 million.
The timing comes with the Panthers set to begin the season at home against the Chicago Bears on Sunday. The Week 1 matchup features two teams that won their divisions in the NFC last season, along with two former No. 1 overall picks in Bryce Young and Caleb Williams, whose paths are tied to the trade the teams made before the 2023 NFL Draft.
Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET, and the game will be shown live on FOX.
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