Panthers More Likely To Franchise K Graham Gano Than G Andrew Norwell

According to Ian Rapoport, the Panthers are more likely to franchise K Graham Gano than Pro Bowl G Andrew Norwell in the coming weeks. Although, Rapoport adds that the Panthers would still like to find a way to keep Norwell.

This isn’t all that surprising to hear for a few reasons.

The first is that reports have said the franchise tag was an unlikely option for Norwell, given that there isn’t a guard-adjusted tag. In order to franchise Norwell, the Panthers would have to be willing to pay him like a top left tackle, given that franchise tag for offensive linemen includes tackles, guards and centers.

Teams have previously used franchise tags to keep kickers, considering that the figure is far less than other positions.

In order for the Panthers to franchise Norwell, they would have to be willing to pay him around $14,271,000 fully guaranteed. Meanwhile, tagging Gano would cost Carolina just $4,835,000.

Gano, 30, played out the final year of his four-year, $12.4 million contract that included $3.95 million guaranteed and is now in position to be unrestricted free agent this offseason.

In 2017, Gano converted 29 of 30 field goal attempts (96.7 percent) to go along with 34 of 37 extra point tries and 70 touchbacks.

Norwell, 26, signed on with the Panthers as an undrafted free agent out of Ohio State back in 2014. He finished a three-year, $1,542,000 deal with Carolina before agreeing to a one-year restricted tender worth $2.746 million for the 2017 season.

In 2017, Norwell appeared in all 16 games for the Panthers and Pro Football Focus rated him as the No. 3 guard out of 77 qualifying players.