Taken in the third round (94th overall) of the 2004 NFL Draft out of South Carolina, Travelle Wharton stepped onto the field for the Panthers as an immediate interior presence. A versatile lineman who played both left guard and left tackle, Wharton served as a quiet, physical pillar along Carolina's offensive line across nine seasons in Charlotte.

The 312-pound Wharton relied on broad-framed strength, hand placement, and quick lateral footwork to sustain blocks. Capable of sliding out to left tackle when needed, his primary home was at left guard, where he excels in setting a firm anchor against interior power rushers and creating rushing lanes on downhill counter and power runs.

Wharton commenced his professional career as a rookie in 2004 by participating in the lineup, beginning the final 11 games at left guard. In 2005, he was in the starting lineup for all 16 games as the Carolina team advanced to the NFC Championship Game, thereby establishing himself as an underappreciated star within the interior offensive line. Following a recovery from a knee injury in 2006, Wharton transitioned to the role of left tackle in 2007, starting all 16 games at the blindside before subsequently shifting back to an interior position.

His most notable campaign was in 2008, when he led a formidable ground attack alongside DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. In 2011, Wharton had another excellent season, starting all 16 games and paving the way for rookie Cam Newton, the precursor to Lamar Jackson, during his record-breaking debut.

Wharton signed with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2012, but a preseason knee injury sidelined him for the entire year, preventing him from appearing in a regular-season game for Cincinnati. He returned to Charlotte in 2013 for a final stint, starting all 16 games at left guard and helping propel Carolina to a 12–4 record and an NFC South title. Wharton started 111 of his 115 games over his career.