The Carolina Panthers have cut several veterans this week, freeing up around $20 million in salary cap space for the 2021 season.
Defensive end Stephen Weatherly and punter Michael Palardy probably won’t be missed much. Cutting long-time veterans free safety Tre Boston and defensive tackle Kawann Short had to sting for some fans, though. Good news: the team is open to bringing back at least one of them if it doesn’t work out for him in free agency.
According to a report by NFL insider Adam Caplan, Carolina is interested in re-signing Short if he doesn’t get a deal elsewhere.
Though #Panthers are releasing veterans this week, I'm told they do have interest in re-signing Kawaan Short if he can't find a deal elsewhere. https://t.co/uuHODVyIHg
— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) February 19, 2021
Short missed most of the 2019 and 2020 seasons due to separate shoulder injuries. However, at his peak Short was a fringe All-Pro defensive tackle. Pro Football Focus has him ranked No. 6 among all interior linemen going back to the 2013 season.
The Panthers are releasing DT Kawann Short today, per @AdamSchefter
91.6 career PFF Grade (2013-2020)
6th among interior DL pic.twitter.com/QPtj15Brqp
— PFF (@PFF) February 16, 2021
If the Panthers can get Short back at a fraction of the cost of his former contract, there’s no reason not to.
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