South Carolina Football: Ranking the highest-paid NFL Gamecocks of all-time

South Carolina football’s Travelle Wharton blocking for the Carolina Panthers. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

South Carolina Football’s No. 11 NFL Career Earner:
Offensive Lineman Travelle Wharton

Travelle Wharton played in the NFL for a decade, almost exclusively with the Carolina Panthers (he signed a one-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals but never played for the franchise due to a preseason injury before returning to the Panthers). A very solid guard for most of his career (with some tackle mixed in), Wharton was a key piece on the line immediately upon entering the league.

Wharton played in a Super Bowl for the Panthers and has the second-most offensive line starts of any Panther in franchise history behind teammate Jordan Gross. Together, Wharton and Gross started almost 100 games next to each other at guard and tackle.

For his career, Wharton made a lot of money protecting quarterbacks like Jake Delhomme and Cam Newton. In fact, when he signed a $36 Million contract with the Panthers, it was one of the largest contracts ever for an interior offensive lineman.

Unfortunately for him, due to injury, much of that deal’s guaranteed money was voided. In the end, Wharton made “only” about $31.5 Million in his NFL career.