CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- This time a year ago, the Carolina Panthers were planning for a draft that in the seventh round would land them Georgia Tech place-kicker Harrison Butker, a potential replacement for veteran Graham Gano.
Today, according to a league source, they plan to use the franchise tag on Gano if a long-term deal can’t be reached as the period to tag a player comes to an end.
The tag, when signed, would assure the 2017 Pro Bowl player is on the roster this season at around $4.96 million. It also would give the Panthers time to work out a long-term deal just as they did with defensive tackle Kawann Short after he was tagged last year.