Carolina Panthers

Panthers: Franchise Tag Still An Option for Kawann Short

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 4:26 p.m. ET

Fansided, Brandon Croce/FanSided via Cat Crave

Franchise tag is not a phrase Carolina Panthers’ fans like to hear after what happened last offseason when the team used the tag on cornerback Josh Norman.

However, it is a tool NFL teams use in hopes of keeping their best players from reaching the open market. This gives them a little bit more time to negotiate long-term deals with those players.

This seems to be the case for defensive tackle Kawann Short, according to head coach Ron Rivera this week. During an interview on Thursday on ESPN, Rivera said that Carolina “probably will have to use the tag” on the defensive tackle, according to Adam Schefter.

Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer provided some clarification from the Panthers’ head coach after that interview. The head coach said it was an option but that nothing was imminent.

The fourth-year defensive tackle had a breakout season in 2015, which included 11 sacks, a Pro Bowl nomination and two NFC Defensive Player of the Month awards.

The production dropped a bit in 2016, with only six sacks, but Short proved that he is still an excellent defensive tackle and 2015 wasn’t an anomaly.

General manager Dave Gettleman will now have to decide if he wants to use a significant part of his salary cap on the franchise tag for Short. Last year, the franchise tag for a defensive tackle was a one-year deal worth $13.651 million, according to ESPN.

The downside with the franchise tag is that the whole salary does count against that season’s salary cap. This could hinder the Panthers’ ability to make any major signings in free agency.

The benefit is that the Panthers will have this entire offseason to work out a long-term deal with Short. It can also provide them cap flexibility this year based on how the deal is structured.

The Panthers most likely do not want to go through another contentious franchise tag situation like they did last offseason. However, the organization can’t afford to let Short walk this year and may be left with no choice.