Kawann Short’s season was ended prematurely by injury last season, but can the standout Carolina Panthers defensive end get back to his best in 2020?
There is plenty of pressure on Kawann Short heading into 2020. The Carolina Panthers lost a host of influential figures during the offseason and the player is now the undisputed leader of the defense.
Short has enjoyed a prolific career in Carolina after being taken with the 44th overall selection in the 2013 NFL Draft. He has been a revelation during his time with the franchise. But the player has plenty of questions to answer heading into next season.
The stud defensive end managed just two games in 2019 before a torn rotator cuff placed him on injured reserve. Short is comfortably the biggest earner on the Panthers’ during the next campaign and he will need to play up this lofty price tag.
He is set to earn $12.5 million in base salary in 2020 and count $19.5 million against the Panthers’ salary cap. If Short does not live up to expectations next year then it could very well be his last season with the franchise.
The 31-year-old is a two-time Pro Bowl selection and made second-team All-Pro back in 2015. He has 32.5 career sacks over his seven-year career in addition to 164 solo tackles, nine forced fumbles, and 12 pass deflections.
This sort of production is going to be needed if the Panthers are going to remain competitive in the NFC South. It is widely regarded to be the toughest division in the NFL in 2020 and Carolina is going to need their prized asset firing on all cylinders to give them the best possible chance of success.
Can Kawann Short bounce back in 2020?
It would be a huge surprise if Kawaan Short did not return to his old self next season. The Carolina Panthers gave him the longest possible time to heal from his shoulder injury and they are hoping this will see the player make a full recovery.
He is such an imposing figure on the line of scrimmage. When Short is at the top of his game there are few better at the position in the NFL. He is a three-down lineman that is incredible either rushing the passer or stopping the run.
This is a defense that has undergone major changes in Carolina and has left them incredibly thin. Although the Panthers are expected to bring in some young faces via the NFL Draft, there will be a lot of pressure on Short’s shoulders to produce the goods and ensure the defensive side of the ball improves dramatically next term.
Releasing Short after this season would save the Panthers around $9.7 million in cap space. So, if things do not pan out as expected the player could join a long list of seasoned veterans who have departed the franchise.
Although Carolina’s decision-makers have made a concerted effort to go younger this offseason, any successful franchise needs veteran leadership. Short will provide stability and can also guide any incoming college recruits and second-year-pro Brian Burns on the right path that will stand them in good stead long-term.
This is yet another intriguing element to a season that has the potential to go either way for new Panthers’ head coach Matt Rhule.