The One Contract Holding Back the Carolina Panthers
By Andrew Gullotta
The Carolina Panthers are getting set for their first season under Matt Rhule and have been active adding talent to their roster. In free agency, they signed quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and receiver Robby Anderson. Additionally, they brought in key defensive pieces via the draft, including first-round pick Derrick Brown.
While they've done a good job this offseason, they perhaps could have done more heavy lifting if it weren't for Kawann Short's contract, which could also affect their financial standing next year.
Good analysis from Jourdan in here. The one thing it doesn't address is how Kawann Short affects all of this. He's 30, on IR and has a ~$20M cap hit the next two years, $17M dead cap in 2020 and $10M dead cap in 2021. Cutting him or restructuring his contract could be necessary. https://t.co/fSZQxZ58Ly
— Reid (@The_Reid) October 22, 2019
In the 2017 offseason, the Panthers made a huge splash by re-signing Short to five-year, $80 million deal. But after that successful campaign in which he racked up 7.5 sacks, he's largely been a disappointment for Carolina.
Short has only recorded three sacks since the beginning of 2018 and played just two games in 2019. What makes things worst? He has cap hits of $19 million and $20 million in both 2020 and 2021, which will be his age-31 and 32 seasons. He's the highest-paid player on the Panthers at the moment.
Short's lack of success on the field and huge contract will set back Carolina's return to relevancy in the NFC South one way or another.
Panthers fans are hoping Short bounces back and has a big season or else there won't be any way to justify his presence on this roster whatsoever.