Kassidy Hill

CHARLOTTE There is always a bit of madness for NFL players when joining a new team. You have to meet coaches and teammates, absorb the playbook, figure out where the meeting rooms are located, and hope the timing and chemistry of it all line up so you can make a difference in a new role.

That is where two of the Carolina Panthers' newest free-agency signings find themselves. Defensive tackleTershawn Whartonand safetyTre'von Moehrigand come to Charlotte from vastly different situations, both from each other and the one they are joining.

Wharton leaves Kansas City with two Super Bowl rings, and the club made it to three such matchups in his time with the Chiefs (an injury kept him from playing in Super Bowl LVII, but he was able to play in LVIII and LIX). It's a championship pedigree that will inevitably be looked to for advice. But as he integrates himself into the Panthers' defense, it's not the Chiefs' Wharton wants to point to, but another NFC team.

"I mean, each year with this league, you never know what teams are going to spark. Like people probably didn't think the Commanders was going to be where they at," Wharton pointed out this week while introducing himself to local media. "So, the biggest transition would be just coming in and playing my piece of, letting them understand what success is.

"It could always happen. Like that's the thing, you got a quarterback turning in the right direction, I like what they're doing with the defense, and you still got nine draft picks, so there's a lot of things that could turn around in a year as you've just seen with the Commanders."

Moehrig left a Raiders team that finished 4-13, including a 10-game losing streak. Granted, the Panthers finished with just one additional win last season but notched four of those five in the back half of the season. Furthermore, Carolina retained head coach Dave Canales and the bulk of the defensive staff. It provided a consistency which seven teams, including the Raiders, couldn't claim this offseason.

"I have faith in what (general manager) Dan (Morgan) and (coach) Dave (Canales) are doing and what they see, so when the time comes, you know, I'm excited to do whatever I can to lead them guys," Moehrig said this week.

Leading guys might be a new concept for Moehrig, who is coming off his rookie contract. But with only two safeties on the roster currentlyMoehrig and undrafted free agentDemani Richardsonheading into his second year he's the old guy at the moment, which clearly defines his responsibilities.

"I'd say just, you know, helping the young guys out coming from college, or whoever else we bring, just kind of bringing up the group together, try to lead them the right way," Moehrig said. "Get them on track as fast as we can so we can win games, so that's the plan."

If nothing else, Moehrig knows he can lead by example. The safety wasmoved closer to the line of scrimmage last seasonand accumulated 104 tackles as a result. It reinforced a mindset in the TCU alum that he hopes will energize his team. It also helps, he explained, that while this is technically a new team, it's not a new defense.

"I've been familiar with the scheme, and we've talked about it before. We've talked about just the versatility of my game, being able to move around, so I feel very comfortable in the scheme," Moehrig explained.

"I just feel like a, a dominant player, somebody who's just going to, like I said, whether the ball's coming towards me or not, I'm going to make somebody hurt, try to put my shoulder pads into them, just be physical."

As for Wharton, the defensive tackle,coming off an 8.5 sack season (including playoffs), admitted he looked for teams where there might be more opportunities beyond what he did in Kansas City.

"I played out of position in Kansas City," Wharton explained. "I kind of played a lot of snaps at the nose guard. Which not saying I can't do it, but everybody wants toI got an ability to rush, you know, so that's the thing that I want to be able to do, and I want to work for this organization.

"Of course, I don't think it's handed to me. I want to get into OTAs and show that I can know the playbook, and I want to continue to earn everything."

Both Moehrig and Wharton were brought to Carolina with the intention of being vital pieces in a defensive rebuild. There is still a month, though, before the Panthers get to see exactly how these two guys work within their team, defense, and locker room. Until then, there is little to do but dream of what's to come.

"I'm excited to be a part of this group," Moehrig said. "I think we got a lot of talented players, a lot of guys that are bought in. I'm excited to get to go in there and meet them and try to build something."