Seahawks should take a look at Kawann Short this offseason

Kawann Short was released by the Carolina Panthers last week. He has been oft-injured but is very skilled. The Seahawks should look at signing him if the price is right. Short has only played five games in the last two seasons but before 2019 missed only two games in four years. He is potentially a very good player for Seattle’s interior defensive line.

Short is a two-time Pro Bowler. In 2015 the defensive tackle had 11 sacks and 16 tackles-for-loss. That was his first Pro Bowl. In 2018, his second Pro Bowl, he had 12 tackles-for-loss. He didn’t make the Pro Bowl in 2016 even though he had 6 sacks or in 2017 when he had 7.5. Short is good.

Short also isn’t old as he will be 32 years old during the 2021 season and at defensive tackle he can be good for a few more years. That is, of course, if he can stay healthy. The Seahawks should be interested but also only if Short is willing to take a lot less than what he would have made with the Panthers which was $8.66 million. No team is going to take a chance on Short for that much money.

Seahawks should sign Short for the right price

But what about $3-4 million? Short could help, if healthy, immensely improve the Seahawks defensive line. Assuming Seattle keeps Carlos Dunlap at defensive end and Jarran Reed at defensive tackle then Short is going to make that duo even more formidable as part of a rotation with Reed and Poona Ford.

There is also the chance that Seattle releases Reed due to his contract or trades him. I don’t think Seattle should do this as Reed supplies an interior pressure on opposing quarterbacks that Seattle does not otherwise have, but if healthy, Short could help overcome whatever is lost with Reed not being on the roster. But again, this is all predicated that Short is willing to sign for $4 million or less. With his recent injury history, anything more might be a pipe dream.