Kawann Short, defensive tackle
Aside from Luke Kuechly, perhaps no one player is as important to Carolina’s defensive success as Short.
Rivera: "Kawann Short is a big part of what we do."
📰: https://t.co/3RvBYtV2HY pic.twitter.com/MQ1Ov2f5WL
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) February 7, 2017
He just finished out his rookie contract and is in line to make serious dough this spring.
Short is one of the most disruptive interior linemen in the NFL. Though, he’s rarely mentioned as an equal to the likes Aaron Donald, Gerald McCoy and Fletcher Cox receive praise in the national media. And that’s a shame.
He is equally dangerous against the run or the pass and has racked up 17 sacks the past two seasons, which is a huge total for a defensive tackle.
The Panthers aren’t going to let Short walk. If they cannot work out a long-term contract before March 1, then he will receive the franchise tag designation. This means his salary for 2017 would be right around $13.5 million. Even if he’s tagged, Short’s representatives will continue working with Carolina to attempt striking a long-term deal.
Either way, he’s about to get paid.