Panthers give Short monster contract extension

Kawann Short

The Carolina Panthers have agreed a five-year deal with defensive tackle Kawann Short.

Short was due to play the 2017 season under the franchise tag but now has a deal that is reportedly worth $80million. Had he played under the tag, Short would have  made $13.1 million this season.

The agreement comes almost a year to the day after the Panthers rescinded the franchise tag they had placed on star cornerback Josh Norman, making him a free agent. Norman went on to sign a five-year, $75 million deal with the Washington Redskins days later.

In Short's case, both parties moved quickly to avoid the same scenario, finalising the long-term deal about six weeks after he was tagged.

A special message from @kk_mr93 to #Panthers fans pic.twitter.com/xHfwEPv4qi

— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) April 17, 2017

"KK has been very important to what we've been able to accomplish on defense," Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman said in a statement. 

"In 2013, when we drafted KK, I thought he was the best pass-rushing defensive tackle in the draft, and he's been able to develop into one of the top young defensive tackles in the NFL. 

"Off the field, KK is a top-notch young man and great representative of our team. I'm absolutely thrilled that we were able to get this deal done."

Short, who turned 28 in February, has recorded 17 sacks over the past two seasons. Eleven of those came in 2015 when he helped lead the Panthers to Super Bowl 50, where they were defeated by the Denver Broncos, while also earning his first Pro Bowl selection.