It's often said, but it bears repeating from time to time: The NFL is a copycat league.
The Kansas City Chiefs may have lost the Super Bowl this season, but they're still the NFL's current gold standard of success. That means that when free agency rolls around, other teams will look to poach their players, many of whom have multiple Super Bowl rings.
Much of the attention this offseason has gone to guard Trey Smith, who the Chiefs franchise-tagged, and linebacker Nick Bolton, who will be an unrestricted free agent. But there's another key defensive starter Kansas City could stand to lose in the coming weeks.
Tershawn Wharton, the Chiefs' 26-year-old defensive tackle, more than tripled his previous career-high this season with 6.5 sacks. That was good timing for Wharton ahead of his first trip to free agency.
On Thursday, CBS Sports' Jared Dubin named Wharton as the best individual free-agent fit for the San Francisco 49ers, whose interior defensive line struggled this season after an early season-ending injury to aging veteran Javon Hargrave.
"Hargrave is probably going to be a cap casualty, so the Niners are going to need some help on the defensive interior as well," Dubin wrote.
"In an ideal world they would get someone who has been a more consistent pass rusher during their career, but Wharton is coming off career highs in sacks and quarterback hits, and he's heading into his prime. Give him more snaps, and maybe he can be even better."
Spotrac currently projects Wharton's market value at three years, $22 million. That wouldn't break the bank for the Chiefs or 49ers, but once a bidding war starts, there's always a chance that the more desperate team could make an albatross offer.
The 49ers, coming off a 6-11 season, are certainly desperate. And they're still smarting about their Super Bowl LVIII loss to the Chiefs, so poaching Wharton could help satisfy their desire for revenge.
