Carolina Panthers: How Valuable Is Kawann Short?

Kawann Short is a valuable player on the Carolina Panthers defense, but just how important is he?

The Carolina Panthers gambled on an important free agency move this off season when the organization allowed Josh Norman to leave. While the verdict on said move will come during the 2016 season, there is another confrontation that is set to occur with an important defensive player in Kawann Short. The Pro Bowl lineman is marred in contract talks with the Panthers that are currently on hold. In some ways, he’s even more vital to this defense than Norman was at his best.

The Panthers front office consistently puts a premium on players that can consistently get pressure on the quarterback and cause havoc up front. Luke Kuechly signed a big deal last season and the Panthers are working with Short to come to a long-term agreement. According to David Newton of ESPN, the Panthers and Short have ended contract talks, but it’s clear they are very interested in coming to terms with a player of his abilities.

As Short moves into his fourth professional season, his value continues to rise. His 2015 season saw him end with 11 sacks and 55 total tackles. What’s more important is that this was his third straight season in which he played in all 16 games. As the Panthers know through firsthand knowledge, injures can immediately hamper how well a unit plays. Short’s consistent health created an opportunity for him to excel in a way that impacted the entire defensive group.

More from Carolina Panthers

Another point that represents how valuable he is to this group is the fact that Short continued to play well without Charles Johnson and Greg Hardy – two men that were big components to this defensive line when Short first entered the league in 2013. Hardy is no longer on the team and Johnson has resigned to a team-friendly deal after a season that was plagued with injuries. Adding Vernon Butler to a core of lineman that include Johnson, Short, Kony Ealy and Star Lotulelei immediately gives the Panthers one of the best defensive line groups in the league.

So how much is Short worth at this time? A player in his position, coming off of his performance last year, could net anywhere to $15 million a year as a free agent. The Panthers currently have $30 million in cap space which could be used to keep Short a part of their roster.

This is very similar to what Norman asked for in his attempt to gain a deal closest to what the market would demand for his position. However, the Panthers’ front office place more value in keeping together a core of players that not only consistently beat up opposing quarterbacks, but were one of the best run stuffing teams in the league.

NFL: Five Players That Will Disappoint

Professional sports are as much a business as they are a form of entertainment and competition. Kawann Short has shown that he can compete at the highest levels of football and the Panthers are ready to create a deal that benefit both him and the organization. The only question is whether or not the two can come to an agreeable deal. Hopefully, for the fans and players alike, this contract situation does not go the same way as the deal with Josh Norman.

Home/Carolina Panthers