Carolina Panthers place the franchise tag on DT Kawann Short
For the second straight year, the Carolina Panthers have used their franchise tag. Last offseason, they rescinded it after tagging Josh Norman, but they’re hoping the same won’t happen this time around.
The team announced on Monday it has placed the tag on defensive tackle Kawann Short, likely keeping him in Carolina for at least one more season.
https://twitter.com/Panthers/status/836288235508809729
The Panthers will now have until July 15 to work out a long-term extension with their stud defensive tackle, otherwise he’ll play the 2017 season on the franchise tag, which will pay him an estimated $13.5 million.
This past season, Short recorded six sacks and 55 total tackles, though he failed to make the Pro Bowl for a second straight year. In 2015, he burst onto the scene with 11 tackles and three forced fumbles, both of which are huge numbers for an interior defensive lineman.
Norman was reluctant to sign the tag, hoping to land a long-term deal in Carolina last offseason. Short isn’t expected to be as difficult, saying last month that he would “most likely” sign the franchise tag relatively quickly if it were applied.
Short has been one of the best defensive tackles in the league the past two seasons despite his numbers falling off a bit in 2016. The Panthers would be wise to lock him up for years to come, keeping their solid defensive line intact.
Teams have until Wednesday to use their franchise tags. Short is the second player to receive the tag; Arizona tagged Chandler Jones earlier Monday.
