Panthers DT Kawann Short Will Attend Training Camp, Despite Skipping OTAs

Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that Panthers DT Kawann Short will be in attendance for the start of training camp, despite holding out of OTAs for contract reasons.

The two sides had been discussing an extension, but didn’t make a lot of progress, which led to Short skipping early offseason workouts.

Last we heard regarding Short and the Panthers, Bill Voth of Black and Blue Review reported that “the sense inside the building” is that Panthers GM Dave Gettleman “won’t go much more than $15 million per season” in regards to a new extension for Short.

Sources have told Voth that Short and his agent Joel Segal believe Eagles DT Fletcher Cox is a good comparison for his next deal. Cox just landed to a six-year, $103 million extension with $63 million guaranteed from the Eagles on Monday, which means Short and his agent are likely targeting close to $17 million per year.

Voth adds that if this is his target, then it’s possible the two sides could be headed for a contract-year staredown.

Of course, the Panthers could always franchise Short next year at around $14 million or so and buy themselves additional time to work on an extension.

At some point, Carolina will also need to address DT Star Lotulelei, so this will be an interesting situation to watch in the coming months.

Carolina elected to bring in more depth at defensive tackle when they used their first-round pick on Vernon Butler.

Short, 27, was taken in the second-round of the 2013 NFL Draft and is currently in the final year of his four-year, $4.630 million rookie contract. Short stands to make a base salary of $1,036,410 for the 2016 season before testing the open market as an unrestricted free agent next year.

In 2015, Short appeared in all 16 games for the Panthers and recorded 55 tackles, 11 sacks, three forced fumbles, two recoveries and four pass defenses. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 8 interior defensive lineman out of 123 qualifying players.

We’ll have more regarding Short and the Panthers as the news is available.