Is Wharton worth 7 million?

[jarhead]

In the past the panthers played a premium to him because he could shift to tackle when Otah/Gross would get injured but we could get creative with others with 7million for replacing a marginal guard.

[koolkatluke]

There is no F'n way he should be making that much this year either he restrut or get's cut.

[jayflip]

He's decent getting paid star money.

[panthers55]

How do you restructure him??? He earns 5.7 in salary this year and 5.9 next year. He is a free agent in 2014. His signing bonus for this year and next is 2 million each year.

Since his contract ends after next year anything you convert from salary to signing bonus will be paid out half this year and the rest next year. So if you converted 4 million of his salary to signing bonus, you would be on the hook for the remainder 1.7 million, the 2 million signing bonus from before the restructure and the 2 million from after the restructure or 5.7 million. Next year he would count 9.9 million against the cap. If you release him next year you still have the 4 million in dead cap space.

What you would do if you don't want him is wait until after June 1st and cut him outright, then you have the 4 million in cap space which you can spread out over 2 years or 2 million in dead cap space. Or you pay him for this year and next while you groom his replacement.

Or you could extend him if you really like him, convert some of his salary this year to the signing bonus, which spreads out over the life of the new contract. That means you are stuck with him for several more years.

But restructuring him doesn't make good sense right now to save perhaps 2 million but raise his cost next year and likely incur big dead cap space if we cut him after this year.

[EMSMedic79]

Restructure him...please.

Agreed

[panthers55]

He's decent getting paid star money.

HIs salary is only 5.7 million which is not star money for a guard. Nicks will get that at close to 10 million a year.

[panther4life]

I like Wharton and it would be stupid to cut him before junes 1st as p55 said, I'll go bump the post but i thought i detailed the best route with him and others.

[jarhead]

Well I guess I got my answer