Carolina Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman has applied the franchise tag on a key defensive player for the second straight year. Now let’s see if it stays tagged.

Defensive tackle Kawann Short has received the non-exclusive franchise tag from the Panthers, the same designation that cornerback Josh Norman received one year ago. Of course, we know how that one went. Norman’s tag eventually was rescinded, and he was allowed to walk — shockingly — to the Washington Redskins in free agency after it appeared he’d stay in Charlotte.

Don’t expect the same to play out for Short. He has become one of the best interior rushers in the NFL, perhaps only behind the Los Angeles Rams’ Aaron Donald among defensive tackles in that regard. Although Short started last season slowly, he has led the Panthers in QB hits each of the past two seasons, starting every game over that span. With the recent re-signing of DE Mario Addison, the Panthers now have brought back their two leading sackers from the past three years combined.

The Panthers are in a far better salary cap situation than they were a year ago, so the chances of them getting a long-term deal done with Short are greater. If not, the Panthers could carry him on the one-year tender, which would cost the team about $13.5 million for this season. The deadline to tag players is Wednesday, so the Panthers got a jump-start on negotiations and have until July 15 to negotiate a long-term contract.

In theory the Panthers left the window cracked open for Short to sign elsewhere. In theory, Short could sign an offer sheet with another team because it’s non-exclusive. The Panthers then could match the offer or receive two first-round picks and let him go. Better than the minimal, delayed return the team got for losing Norman.

But it’s clear Gettleman places a higher positional value on the front line than on the secondary, which was one reason Norman was allowed to skate. The price just got out of hand in the Panthers’ eyes, and they were willing to let Norman go — earning a third-round compensatory pick, No. 98 overall, this year — and go young in the secondary. The results were decidedly mixed.

But with Short, the Panthers have no choice but to keep him. He’s a key defender and a centerpiece to Ron Rivera’s defense. Plus, Gettleman is not about to let another young difference maker on defense walk out the door — not without major compensation, anyway.

And we don’t expect that to happen.

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Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at edholm@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter!

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