Panthers set to make Kawann Short among highest-paid defensive tackles

3:46 PM ET

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Carolina Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman has been clear since Super Bowl 50 he wants to sign Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kawann Short to a long-term deal.

He said this before he put the franchise tag on cornerback Josh Norman in February and that didn’t change when the tag was rescinded last month.

So it came as no surprise on Monday when NFL.com reported, quoting a source, that negotiations have begun. It would have been a bigger surprise if they hadn’t.

Kawann Short registered 11 sacks in 2015, tied for the league lead among defensive tackles. Bob Donnan/USA TODAY Sports

If a deal is to be reached, odds are it will happen before training camp. Gettleman doesn’t like negotiations to interfere with preparation for the season.

So what is Short, a second-round pick out of Purdue in 2013, …

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