Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that the Panthers and DT Kawann Short have begun the process of discussing a long-term extension that will keep him in Carolina for the foreseeable future.
Rapoport mentions that an extension for Short played a role in their decision to rescind CB Josh Norman‘s franchise tag and allow him to depart as a free agent.
This has been the expectation for a few weeks now, considering that they’ve already picked up Star Lotulelei‘s fifth-year extension, which keeps him under team control through the 2017 season.
Short has quickly developed into one of the league’s premiere defensive tackles and should command a sizable contract from the Panthers.
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.
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