Panthers Open To Re-Signing Kawann Short
One of the NFL’s premier defensive tackles for several years, Kawann Short is now a street free agent after the Panthers released him last week. He has received interest from a few places.
Short said during an appearance on Sirius XM Radio (via NFL.com) “a few teams” have reached out about a deal, one he expects to be a one-year contract due to the shoulder injuries that have sidetracked his career over the past two seasons. But the Panthers may be interested in bringing Short back.
New Panthers GM Scott Fitterer told Short he is open to a lower-cost deal, per Short, should the run-stuffer’s market not produce what he hopes. Short, who signed a five-year extension worth $80MM in 2017, was set to count nearly $20MM against Carolina’s 2021 cap.
Considering Short’s release already tagged Carolina with more than $11MM in dead money, a reunion would certainly be interesting. The Panthers have purged their roster of most of their previous cornerstone players. As of now, only Shaq Thompson remains as a starter from Super Bowl 50. Tre Boston joined Short in Super Bowl 50 cogs jettisoned this month.
Short, 32, is a free agent after having played only five games over the past two seasons. He suffered injuries to both rotator cuffs in that span, stalling momentum he had established. Having expressed appreciation for the Panthers releasing him weeks ahead of free agency, Short sounds amenable to returning to the Panthers. The NFL has a few hubs for ex-Panthers, however, with the Giants (Dave Gettleman), Bills (Sean McDermott, Brandon Beane) and Washington (Ron Rivera) each housing staffers who had a hand in drafting or coaching Short. It will be interesting to see if one or more of these teams express interest.
Minor NFL Transactions: 2/22/21
We’ve got a few minor moves to pass along from today:
Carolina Panthers
- Re-signed: WR Brandon Zylstra, WR Keith Kirkwood
Houston Texans
- Re-signed: RB Dontrell Hilliard (one-year, $1.25MM, via Ian Rapoport on Twitter).
San Francisco 49ers
- Re-signed: WR River Cracraft
Hilliard, Zylstra, and Kirkwood were all set to be restricted free agents before getting these one-year extensions, and they now won’t need to be tendered offers. Cracraft was an exclusive rights free agent so there wasn’t much of a question about his future. Hilliard did pretty well for himself to get $1.25MM with $200K guaranteed, considering he only appeared in two games for Houston without receiving a carry or reception.
Panthers Owner “Obsessed” With Finding QB Solution
The Panthers’ pursuit of Deshaun Watson is no joke. Owner David Tepper is “obsessed” with finding a long-term quarterback solution this offseason, according to a well-placed source who spoke with Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated.
The Panthers thought they found their QB one year ago when they inked Teddy Bridgewater to a three-year, $63MM deal. They already have buyer’s remorse. Bridgewater showed his age and injury history last year, prompting the Panthers to look elsewhere. Of course, there’s still the matter of his contract — the Panthers are already locked in for $10MM in guaranteed base money this year. And, if Bridgewater remains on the roster, he’ll earn his full $17MM base salary, plus $1MM total in workout and per-game bonuses.
Tepper’s desire to upgrade could lead them to a Watson deal, even though it would be costly in terms of dollars and draft capital. The other option would be to trade up from the No. 8 overall pick to land one of this year’s top quarterbacks. Similar to the Broncos, the Panthers are in on Watson, though they were never all that keen on Carson Wentz. That’s a sign that the Panthers are looking to land a superstar, rather than a bridge QB (no pun intended).
It’s worth noting that the Panthers recently carved out significant cap space, with help from center Matt Paradis. That extra coin could give them the room necessary to land Watson and untangle themselves from Bridgewater.
This Date In Transactions History: Panthers Release Mike Tolbert
After making a name for himself in San Diego, Mike Tolbert moved on to the Panthers and became an integral part of their offense. But, after the 2016 season, the Panthers released the multiple-time Pro Bowler in a cost-cutting move. 
[RELATED: Panthers To Release Tre Boston]
Tolbert wasn’t the fastest guy in the NFL, but he was a wrecking ball who knew how to move the pile. In 2016, he collected the third Pro Bowl selection of his career, adding to a resume that also included two First Team All-Pro nods (2013, 2015).
However, there were some signs of decline and he had slipped in the Panthers’ pecking order. Historically, the Panthers gave Tolbert a decent amount of work. In 2016, he had just 35 carries – the lowest total of his Panthers stretch. He was still an adept lead blocker with goal line ability, but the Panthers opted to save $1.725MM against the books while carrying a $2.075MM cap charge.
Tolbert, entering his age-32 season, landed with the Bills in free agency. Other teams — like the Jets — considered the veteran, but other fullbacks with sharper run blocking skills like Patrick DiMarco received more attention. Tolbert made the cut, opened the year behind LeSean McCoy on the depth chart, and averaged 3.7 yards per carry in a limited sample. That would prove to be his final year in the NFL — fullbacks had mostly gone the way of the dinosaur in the 2018 offseason, and Tolbert did not sign another NFL deal.
Panthers, C Matt Paradis Rework Contract
After moving on from three players yesterday, the Panthers are continuing to open up cap space. ESPN’s Field Yates reports (via Twitter) that the team has reworked center Matt Paradis‘s contract. Specifically, the team converted $7.04MM of the veteran’s $8.03MM base salary into a signing bonus, opening up $4.69MM in cap space.
Following a five-year stint with the Broncos (including a 2015 campaign where he started all 16 games for the eventual Super Bowl champions), Paradis joined the Panthers on a three-year, $27MM contract in 2019. He’s started all 32 of the Panthers’ games since joining the organization, and he appeared in 100 percent of his team’s offensive snaps in 2020.
The Panthers made a handful of financial moves this week. On Tuesday, the team released defensive tackle Kawann Short, saving the team $8.6MM in space. Then yesterday, we learned the team was planning to cut safety Tre Boston ($3.5MM in savings), punter Michael Palardy ($1.9MM), and defensive end Stephen Weatherly ($5.9MM).
Carolina is now rolling with an estimated $31MM in cap space, and these recent moves have saved the team more than $24MM in space. As Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com observes, that would be more than enough extra money to slide someone like, say, Deshaun Watson onto the roster. We learned earlier this week that the Panthers were planning on making a run at the Texans quarterback.
Panthers Release P Michael Palardy, DE Stephen Weatherly
In addition to jettisoning Tre Boston, the Panthers parted ways with two other contributors Friday. They released three-year punter Michael Palardy and 2020 defensive end starter Stephen Weatherly.
Together, these moves will create nearly $8MM in cap space for the Panthers. Combined with the releases of Boston and Kawann Short this week, the franchise will save around $16.4MM. Both Palardy and Weatherly were released with failed-physical designations, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle tweets.
The Panthers signed Palardy midway through the 2016 season, picking him up after placing previous punter Andy Lee on IR. Carolina kept Palardy around for the next three seasons, doing so via three-year, $7.52MM extension. One season remained on that deal. Palardy, 28, suffered a torn ACL last summer, leading the Panthers to use rookie UDFA Joseph Charlton as their punter.
Weatherly, 26, inked a two-year, $12.5MM deal with the Panthers last March and opened the season as the team’s defensive end starter opposite Brian Burns. Weatherly suffered a finger injury that required surgery, sending him to IR after nine games. The Panthers then turned to second-round pick Yetur Gross-Matos. Both Burns and Gross-Matos can be controlled through the 2023 season on their rookie contracts.
A seventh-round Vikings pick in 2016, Weatherly has managed to stick around beyond his rookie deal. He recorded six sacks between the 2018 and ’19 seasons and replaced Mario Addison as a Panthers starter last year. The Vanderbilt product did not register a sack with the Panthers, however.
Panthers To Release Tre Boston
The Panthers are set to release safety Tre Boston, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). The move will save Carolina approximately $3.5MM against the 2021 books if Boston is designated as a post-June 1 cut. 
Boston returned to the Panthers in 2019, marking his second straight low-cost, one-year NFL deal. Then, Boston racked up eleven passes defensed and three interceptions, helping to turn around a suddenly resurgent secondary. He was rewarded with a three-year, $18MM deal, but he won’t see the final two seasons of that pact. The Panthers have already paid out the bulk of that commitment, furnishing him with $9.5MM in Year One.
Boston, 29 in June, tallied a career high 95 tackles in 2020 with two fumble recoveries, four passes defensed, and one interception. With 15 INTs and 104 career appearances under his belt, Boston should find a solid market for his services in March. However, given the anticipated drop in the salary cap, he’ll probably have to settle for less than his previous deal. Unfortunately for Boston, that may mean another short-term pact to carry him through 2021.
Browns Lead NFL In Salary Cap Carryover
Earlier today, the NFL Players Association announced (via Twitter) the salary cap carryover amounts for all 32 NFL teams for the 2021 season. Effectively, teams are able to rollover their unused cap from the previous season. So, when the 2021 salary cap numbers become official, they can be added to each team’s carryover amount to determine that individual club’s official cap for 2021.
This follows news from earlier today that the NFL has raised its salary cap floor to $180MM for 2021. This total could clue us in to the salary cap maximum, which could end up landing north of $190MM. The salary cap was $198.2MM for the 2020 campaign.
As the NFLPA detailed, the league will rollover $315.1MM from the 2020 season, an average of $9.8MM per team. The Browns lead the league with a whopping $30.4MM, and they’re the only team in the top-five to make the playoffs. The NFC East ($68.8MM) and AFC East ($65.3MM) are the two divisions will the largest carryover amounts.
The full list is below:
- Cleveland Browns: $30.4MM
- New York Jets: $26.7MM
- Dallas Cowboys: $25.4MM
- Jacksonville Jaguars: $23.5MM
- Philadelphia Eagles: $22.8MM
- New England Patriots: $19.6MM
- Denver Broncos: $17.8MM
- Washington Football Team: $15.8MM
- Miami Dolphins: $15.2MM
- Detroit Lions: $12.8MM
- Cincinnati Bengals: $10.8MM
- Houston Texans: $9.2MM
- Indianapolis Colts: $8.3MM
- Los Angeles Chargers: $8.1MM
- Chicago Bears: $7MM
- Los Angeles Rams: $5.7MM
- Kansas City Chiefs: $5.1MM
- Arizona Cardinals: $5MM
- Pittsburgh Steelers: $5MM
- New York Giants: $4.8MM
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $4.6MM
- Minnesota Vikings: $4.5MM
- Carolina Panthers: $4.3MM
- New Orleans Saints: $4.1MM
- Buffalo Bills: $3.8MM
- Green Bay Packers: $3.7MM
- Las Vegas Raiders: $3.6MM
- Tennessee Titans: $2.3MM
- San Francisco 49ers: $1.9MM
- Atlanta Falcons: $1.8MM
- Seattle Seahawks: $956K
- Baltimore Ravens: $587K
Latest On Panthers’ Quarterback Outlook
The Panthers were prepared to part with their current starting quarterback and their No. 8 overall pick for Matthew Stafford, and owner David Tepper appears prepared to approve a guns-blazing push for Deshaun Watson.
Carolina is believed to be in on a few quarterbacks in this complex offseason at the position, according to The Athletic (subscription required), but the team was not viewed as a serious Carson Wentz suitor. Taking it a step further, Sirius XM Radio’s Adam Caplan tweets the Panthers were not interested in the former Eagles passer.
Teddy Bridgewater, offered to the Lions in the Panthers’ Stafford proposal, may not be long for his role as Carolina’s QB1. But the Panthers sat out the Wentz process, joining the Patriots and Broncos — who were also in the mix for Stafford, though the QB did not want to be dealt to New England — in that regard. This led to the Eagles shipping Wentz to the Colts. Philadelphia’s initial ask of a Stafford-type haul for Wentz induced multiple teams to bow out of the pursuit early.
As for the Panthers’ next move, it might not be a trade for Sam Darnold. They do not appear especially high on the Jets quarterback, according to The Athletic, and a growing sense has emerged that Bridgewater may be back at the controls for the 2021 Panthers. Armed with the draft’s No. 2 overall pick, the Jets are mulling a Darnold decision. Multiple teams have inquired on Darnold thus far. Their choice could impact the Panthers, who may be out of position — barring a trade-up maneuver — to snag one of the top three QBs in this draft.
Returning OC Joe Brady remains confident in Bridgewater, per The Athletic. Bridgewater signed a three-year, $63MM deal last March. However, Tepper is said to be hoping the team finds an upgrade — even if Watson cannot be pried from the Texans.
Panthers Planning Big Deshaun Watson Push
Previously linked to a Deshaun Watson pursuit, the Panthers appear prepared to pry the superstar passer from the Texans. If the Texans make Watson available, Panthers owner David Tepper is “fixed on” the prospect of landing him in a trade, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports notes.
After seeing the Panthers limited at quarterback during his short tenure in power, the Carolina owner wants to see the franchise acquire a game-changing talent at this position. The Panthers are “beyond smitten” with Watson, with Tepper prepared to do what it takes to land the four-year Houston starter, La Canfora adds.
The Panthers do not have the extra 2021 first-round pick that would help them in such a deal, putting them at a disadvantage compared to the Dolphins and Jets, but JLC indicates the Tepper-run franchise would be prepared to offer its next three first-rounders and possibly young players if that is what it required to acquire Watson. If nothing else, the Panthers appear prepared to make other Watson suitors bid highly to land him.
While the Texans have yet to make Watson available, the quarterback is dug in on his stance to leave Houston. The Panthers join the Broncos and 49ers as teams preparing for a Watson run, but thus far, Carolina’s reported level of interest surpasses that of Denver or San Francisco. The Jets and Dolphins have also been linked to Watson, who has Miami and San Francisco atop his destination list. It is unclear how the 25-year-old QB feels about Carolina, but he is not expected to be veto-happy with his no-trade clause and did have a rather notable college career in the region. The Panthers are also set to move their practice facility to South Carolina, the state in which Watson won a national championship while at Clemson.
The Panthers offered Teddy Bridgewater and their No. 8 overall pick in a deal for Matthew Stafford, giving more credence to the idea Tepper is seeking an immediate upgrade at quarterback. But Watson is “far and away” the player the owner covets, according to La Canfora. The Texans, should they grant their passer’s trade request, would certainly prefer to ship him to the NFC. But it is unclear at this point what the Jets and/or Dolphins would offer. It sounds like those teams will have to surrender plenty to outbid the Panthers.