The latest news from Charlotte, NC: offensive tackle Jordan Gross is closer to signing a long-term deal with the Carolina Panthers. 

Gross, who was selected to his first Pro Bowl in his sixth season with the Panthers and named All-Pro, was a first round draft pick out of Utah by the Panthers in 2003.

Adam Schefter of the NFL Network quoted a league source as saying the Panthers and Gross’ agent Ethan Lock made “significant progress” in contract talks on Monday, but that it will cost the Panthers about $9 million per season to keep Gross.

The Panthers need to get a deal worked out and signed by Gross before 4 p.m. Thursday, because that is the league deadline for placing the franchise tag on a player.

Once the Panthers, Jordan Gross, and Lock have come to an agreement, Panthers' management will be able to place the franchise tag on Pro Bowl defensive end Julius Peppers.

The Panthers will look to trade Peppers, who will no longer play for the Panthers, to the highest bidder, either for draft picks and/or players. After making a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles to move up in the 2008 draft to select Jeff Otah, the Panthers lost their first round draft pick for 2009.

Hopefully Peppers will trade out for that and more.