Kawann Short, defensive tackle, Carolina Panthers
One of the most disruptive interior defensive linemen in the NFL, Short is a veritable giant in the middle of Carolina’s defense.
Originally a second-round pick out of Purdue, it took Short a year and a half to gain a starting role with the Panthers. Once that was settled, he settled into that role quite nicely, racking up 20.5 sacks, including 11 in 2015. He also hauled in 156 tackles in his last three seasons, proving as productive against the run as he was rushing the passer.
As a result of his immense value to Carolina, it seems inevitable that Short will be hit with the franchise tag. Head coach Ron Rivera indicated as much recently.
We’re not convinced Short will be amenable to such an arrangement. He was not happy about his contract situation last summer before the season began, and the Panthers will almost certainly have to put up or shut up to keep him satisfied in the long term. Who can forget what happened last year with cornerback Josh Norman, after all?
Panthers fans better pray their team values Short more than it did Norman, who more than proved his worth simply by not being there for Carolina in 2016.