4 Panthers players who should be easy cuts this offseason

Kawann Short – Carolina Panthers DT

First off, Kawann Short has been a fantastic servant to the Carolina Panthers since arriving as a second-round pick out of Purdue in 2013. The defensive tackle was one of the best in the business once upon a time and had it not been for injuries, things might look different for the veteran Pro Bowler heading into the final year of his deal.

However, there is no room for sentiment when it comes to building a successful NFL roster.

Short is set to count $20.83 million against Carolina’s salary-cap in 2021. This equates to 11.62 percent of the financial resources available, with only quarterback Teddy Bridgewater getting more money at $23 million.

Releasing the player would represent a saving of $9.82 million if Short is moved on before June 1. This is simply too good to turn down in the current climate and especially considering he’s featured just five times over the last two years.

The Panthers got by fine without Short this season. Derrick Brown enjoyed a fine rookie campaign after taking a couple of games to find his feet, with Zach Kerr, Bravvion Roy, and Efe Obada also performing well when called upon alongside the No. 7 overall selection.

This makes the decision to cut ties with Short even easier. But providing there are no more complications from an injury standpoint, he could be a player of considerable interest for a team looking to contend.