Ranking the 7 worst contracts in Carolina Panthers history
By Jason Huber
Kawann Short – Former Carolina Panthers DT
- Signed five-year, $80 million deal in 2017
Kawann Short is an unfortunate case of earning a really big contract, just to have injuries end up derailing your career. When the defensive tackle signed this deal, he had played in every game of his four-year career at that point and was two years removed from being named a second-team All-Pro.
The 2013 second-round pick played 14 games in the first year of the new deal in 2018. Short was outstanding and actually made the Pro Bowl with 42 tackles and three sacks.
After that, things were never the same for Short.
In 2019, Short injured his left shoulder just two games into the season and missed the remainder of the year. After recovering, he injured his right shoulder after just three games in 2020 and was ruled out for the remainder of that campaign as well.
With Short playing in just five total games in years two and three of his five-year deal, Carolina cut him to save some money following the 2020 season. The Panthers did save around $9 million but still were left with $11 million in dead money once the former Purdue standout was released.
Short was still a huge contributor during his time in Charlotte. Things just didn’t pan out after his big deal and the lineman has not signed for anyone else since.