NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 15: Kawann Short #99 of the Carolina Panthers warming up before a game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on November 15, 2015 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
For the second straight year, the Carolina Panthers opted to use the franchise tag. And for the second year in a row, their tagged player wont actually play out the year on the franchise tag.
The Panthers signed Kawann Short, whom they tagged in February, to a massive five-year, $80 million contract, according to ESPN.
Shorts new deal will make him the fourth-highest paid defensive tackle in the league, behind only Ndamukong Suh, Fletcher Cox and Marcell Dareus. Hes certainly deserving of a long-term deal, especially after dominating in 2015 with 11 sacks.
His $80 million contract surpasses that of Josh Normans with the Redskins (five years, $75 million) after the Panthers rescinded the franchise tag on him. With Short now locked up for five years, the Panthers no longer have to worry about a possible holdout leading up to training camp.
The deadline to sign the franchise tag was July 15, so Carolina got way out ahead of this.
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