4 Panthers free agents in 2022 who could be cut this offseason

Kawann Short – Carolina Panthers DT

• Cap saving – $9.76 million

This one appears to be a no-brainer for the Carolina Panthers. Kawann Short is set to count a whopping $20.83 million against their salary cap in 2021 and given the defensive tackle’s worrying injury problems over the last two years, it appears highly unlikely that the Pro Bowler is kept around with this sort of financial outlay.

Big things were expected of Short this season after missing all but two games in 2019 with a torn rotator cuff. His partnership with Derrick Brown was projected to substantially improve Carolina’s dismal run defense, but another devastating injury saw his campaign restricted to three games over the first five weeks before the organization eventually placed him on IR due to a shoulder problem that required surgery.

If this is the end of the road for Short in Carolina, then he can look back on his level of production with a tremendous sense of pride. The lineman was a relentless force at the top of his game and although things haven’t quite finished in the right way, he owes the franchise nothing.

This would also allow Short to possibly move somewhere with a more realistic chance of competing for a Super Bowl. He won’t be asking for a lot financially given the money Carolina would be paying him and his lack of involvement means there is less wear and tear on the player’s body than there would be with a full season in the trenches.