Well, Kawann Short never signed his franchise tender after all. He didn’t have to.
As the Panthers convene for offseason workouts, the fourth-year defensive tackle and the Panthers have worked out a five-year, $80 million contract.
Per a source with knowledge of the situation, Short will make $40 million over the first two years of the contract.
So why do the deal now, when the deadline for signing franchise-tagged players to a long-term contract doesn’t arrive until July 15? The Panthers obviously wanted him to be all in for the offseason program, which opens this week.
Short’s deal exceeds the five-year, $75 million contract that cornerback Josh Norman signed a year ago, after the Panthers rescinded the franchise tag and Norman joined Washington.