CHARLOTTE – Starting guard Andrew Norwell has signed his restricted free agent tender and is now under contract for the 2017 season.
In addition, center Tyler Larsen and punter Michael Palardy have signed their tenders.
Norwell, undrafted out of Ohio State in 2014, took over as starter at left guard for the final six games of his rookie season and has thrived in that role since. He's started 38 regular season games for the Panthers – 37 at left guard – and all five of Carolina's playoff games during his time with the team.
Larsen and Palardy joined the Panthers last season and were potential exclusive rights free agents before signing their tenders. Larsen, an rookie undrafted rookie in 2014 out of Utah State, spent the preseason with Miami in 2014 and Washington in 2015 but was out of football during those seasons. The Panthers signed him early in the 2016 offseason, he made the initial 53-man roster and then he started five games and played well in place of injured center Ryan Kalil.
Palardy, an undrafted rookie out of Tennessee in 2014, spent part of last offseason with the Panthers and spent a handful of games on practice squads in Oakland, Cleveland and Atlanta before the Panthers added him to their 53-man roster in November. He played in place of injured punter Michael Palardy the final seven games last season and held his own, recording a 42.5-yard gross average with a 37.9-yard net and 13 punts inside the 20.
View photos of Panthers defensive tackle Kawann Short during his eight seasons with Carolina. Short ranks seventh in franchise history with 32.5 sacks.