The Panthers slapped offensive tackle Jordan Gross with the franchise tag at the outset of the NFL free agency period, and Gross signed the franchise tender in March.

At the time there was speculation that Gross would sign a long-term deal with the team, but Darin Gantt of the Rock Hill Herald reports that a long-term contract is unlikely to get done, and Gross will likely play out the season on the one-year $7.455 million deal that came with signing the franchise tender.

That means the Panthers will have another decision to make at the beginning of the 2009 free-agency period: Either let Gross become an unrestricted free agent, or franchise him again. The franchise tender next year would be at least $8.946 million, since franchise players are guaranteed at least a 20 percent pay raise if they’re franchised in consecutive years.

Gross, who turns 28 in a week, has started all 80 games of his NFL career. The Panthers will likely decide that he’s worth the nearly $9 million guarantee and franchise him again next year.