It appears that we may have a positive development in the contract talks between the Panthers and defensive tackle Kawann Short. Panthers GM Dave Gettleman says that the team is still talking to Short about an extension, despite previous word that things had stalled (via Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer). 
Short has been working on a new pact with Carolina for some time now. This offseason, Short’s asking price likely went up when Fletcher Cox and Muhammad Wilkerson cashed in with their respective teams. Carolina would like to re-up Short at roughly $15MM per year, but it will probably take an AAV of ~$17MM to get something done based on how the market looks now.
The 27-year-old Short broke out last season, his third in the NFL, in leading the NFC champions’ top-tier defense in sacks (11) and forced fumbles (three). Short, who turned in his first 16-start campaign, also graded eighth in overall performance among Pro Football Focus’ 123 qualified interior defensive linemen. By any measure, he was in the same class as Wilkerson and Cox and other elite defensive linemen in 2015.
Short is set to make just over $1MM this season, the final year on his rookie deal.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.