The Carolina Panthers have locked up defensive tackle Kawann Short with a long-term deal, and that's big. The franchise tag would have only kept him around for one more year, and that's assuming he signed it at all. Now one of the league's best defensive linemen isn't going anywhere.

It's a big plus for what's been one of the league's best fantasy defenses since Short entered the league in 2013 -- top-12 in each of his four seasons in a scoring system awarding 1 point for sacks, 2 points for takeaways, and 6 for touchdowns. It's not all Short, but he hasn't missed a game in those four season and has been a starter in each of the last three.

In those four seasons, the Panthers have more sacks than any other team -- and more takeaways than any other team. Short has been one of the constants on those defenses.

Teams sacks and takeaways over the last four years, sorted by total sacks (where Carolina has the biggest edge), are shown below.

TEAM SACKS AND TAKEAWAYS, 2013-2016
Team13S13T14S14T15S15T16S16TTot SkTot Tk
Carolina6030402644394727191122
Denver4126412552274227176105
Buffalo5730543021253918171103
New England482940254921342317198
Kansas City4736461447292833168112
Green Bay442241274322402516896
Arizona4730352536334828166116
Minnesota412041194322412716688
LA Rams532940254126311816598
Seattle4439372437224219160104
Philadelphia3731492837263426157111
Baltimore402449223714312815788
Tennessee362539163919401815478
Pittsburgh342033214830382315394
NY Jets411545133930271215270
Indianapolis422741263525331715195
Washington362637193826382014991
Tampa Bay3531362538233829147108
Houston321138344525311714687
Miami422439253116332514590
Jacksonville312145203618331314572
New Orleans491934173122302114479
Detroit332242274218261414381
Chicago312839243517371114280
NY Giants3429472623273525139107
Cincinnati4331202642283320138105
San Francisco383036292812332013591
Dallas342828313111362012990
San Diego351726183220352812883
Cleveland402131292921261312684
Oakland382222143825253012391
Atlanta322122281923342210794

--Andy Richardson