Panthers GM admits future contracts are a factor in drafting players
Dave Gettleman faces another big contract negotiation with Kawaan Short
By
Will Brinson
•
2 min read
Panthers GM Dave Gettleman did a recent, lengthy offseason interview with Black and Blue Review that drew plenty of attention for recent comments about contracts and agents relating to Josh Norman. He also talked about drafting for contracts.
More specifically, did Kawaan Short's contract situation impact Gettleman's decision to draft Vernon Butler? Asked generally whether contracts of current players matter when examining draft options, Gettleman conceded it is a factor.
"Sometimes," Gettleman said. "Yes and no.
"Obviously, if you know your roster you'll say, 'Who's getting close to the end?'"
Gettleman has almost always by and large drafted for talent rather than drafting for need. He took hybrid linebacker Shaq Thompson in the first round in 2015 despite Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis already being on the roster.
"You always want to be in a position like we were with Shaq [Thompson]," Gettleman explained. "Did we need a linebacker right there?
"Well, Shaq's gifted as hell," Gettleman continued, "and T.D. ain't playing forever. [Shaq] just stood out like a sore thumb."
Thompson was a key addition, particularly with Davis suffering an injury in the playoffs. And Davis, for as much as he means to the Panthers, is older now. Grooming a future replacement is just smart football.
Maybe the same thing applies to the defensive tackle position. Short's contract is up after 2016 and if he follows up a mammoth 2015 season with an equally strong campaign he will be in line for big bucks in the offseason.
"Looking at the roster, did we need another defensive tackle?" Gettleman again asked rhetorically. "People can argue 'no.'
"But you know how much I believe in the front. You know how much I believe it's a big man's game and [coach] Ron [Rivera] is right there with me."
The Panthers success is in large part due to their defense. And the defensive success is in large part due to their willingness to invest in big bodies on the defensive line. Adding Short and Star Lotulelei in the first two rounds of the 2013 NFL Draft kickstarted Carolina's resurgence.
Those two big men occupy bodies while simultaneously rushing the passer. It makes the defensive ends better (less protection), it makes the linebackers better (more holes for Kuechly to knife through in run support) and it makes the secondary MUCH better (it's easier to cover someone when you don't have to cover someone long).
So, yes, Short's contract is an issue. Losing him would be a huge blow. Gettleman has the franchise tag in his pocket (although it hasn't worked out well lately) but he's also got another big body on the roster who gives the Panthers both depth at their second-most important position as well as an insurance policy for the future.
