Don't expect Wharton to play guard

The popular theory around the Carolinas is that the Panthers resigned Travelle Wharton, who played left tackle last season, with the intent of moving him inside to a guard position. Carolina would then spend a high draft pick - or a lot of money in free agency - on a left tackle.

To me, logic seems to dictate Wharton will remain at left tackle next year and in the future.

Think about it this way: Carolina just cut Mike Wahle, an effective yet injury-plagued guard, to save about $4 million toward its salary cap. Wharton signed a six-year deal with $36 million. I'm not sure if that contract is backloaded or carries incentive clauses (I assume it does), but it doesn't make much financial sense to give someone $6 million a year to play guard, especially when you just cut someone making $4 million.

Compare Wharton's contract to some of the best guards in the league: Steve Hutchinson, who signed a mammoth deal with Minnesota, has a cap figure of $6.7 million. Buffalo's Derrick Dockery has a cap figure of $6.8 million a year. Pittsburgh's Alan Faneca, one of the best offensive linemen in the league, will probably leave Pittsburgh because the Steelers - who currently pay him about $6 million a year - can't afford, or don't want, to resign him.

Wharton played left tackle last year, and struggled at times. But he underwent a major knee operation the year prior, and offensive linemen usually do much better the second year after a surgery. Especially with right tackle Jordan Gross unsigned, I don't think the Panthers have the luxury to pay a guard that much money.