Panthers & DT Kawann Short Still Discussing Possible Extension

Panthers and DT Kawann Short tells the Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer that his representatives and the team are still in discussions regarding a potential contract extension.

However, Person writes that there hasn’t been any indication that an extension is imminent and there’s even some question as to how much progress the two sides have made.

According to Person, Short believes he should be compensated as one of the best defensive tackles in the league his agent, which means he could be targeting close to $17 million per year. This comes after the recent extensions signed by Eagles DT Fletcher Cox and Jets DE Muhammad Wilkerson.

As of now, it appears as though the Panthers aren’t willing to offer him that kind of money. Beyond that, Carolina will also need to address DT Star Lotulelei, which means they could always franchise Short next year at around $14 million or so and buy themselves additional time to work on an extension.

Yesterday, Jason La Canfora reports that contract talks between the two parties “went nowhere” are now “effectively dead.” La Canfora added there’s not much hope of them reaching an agreement before the start of the season.

Short ultimately elected to report in time for the start of training camp after he held out of OTAs for contract reasons.

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.