The Panthers were able to hammer out a six-year contract extension with offensive tackle Jordan Gross and then use the franchise tag on defensive end Julius Peppers just before the league deadline to do so.

"We are very pleased to have Jordan signed for the long term," said general manager Marty Hurney. "He has developed into one of the premier tackles in the NFL and enables us to develop continuity along the offensive line. We are extremely pleased that he will remain a Panther."

And, of course, the deal allows the Panthers to now trade Peppers for draft picks.

The Panthers had until 4 p.m. Thursday to use the franchise tag, so getting the deal done with Gross was huge. The deal actually was agreed upon Wednesday night, but not made public until Thursday.

"I knew if I had gone to the free market the sky would have been the limit, but I said all along I wanted to play for the Panthers," Gross said. "I certainly could have made a lot more. But they cut me a great deal and it was (salary) cap friendly for them. This is a move that will put the Panthers in position to do some other things."

The deal includes more than $30 million of guaranteed money in the first three years of the contract, sources said.

Peppers' agent Carl Carey now has the option to solicit an offer sheet from other teams.

Although the rules of the Collective Bargaining Agreement technically state the Panthers would have seven days to match any offer sheet or receive two first-round picks in return, the reality is the Panthers can work out a trade with another team for less than that.

Peppers has told those close to him that he'll agree to be traded to only four teams, one of which is in the AFC, which may make a trade tougher.

"Julius was expecting the franchise tag and we will continue to seek a resolution that is in line with his professional goals," Carey said in a statement released to the media.

If Peppers wanted, he could sign the Panthers franchise tender and earn a whopping $16.683 million this season and become an unrestricted free agent next in 2010. That number is almost double what the regular franchise tender is for a defensive end in the NFL ($8.99 million) because it's based off a 20 percent increase over Peppers' salary from 2008.

However, Peppers, 29, has repeatedly said he wants out of Carolina and too many bridges have been burned in the process for him to return to the team.

A year ago, the Kansas City Chiefs traded a similar player in defensive end Jared Allen to the Minnesota Vikings for a first-round draft pick and two third-round picks.

Gross has started 95 of 96 regular season games in six years as well as eight playoff games. His 95 starts are the most of any offensive lineman in team history.

The only start he has missed came last season against Kansas City after suffering a concussion versus the Falcons.

After switching between the right and left tackle positions during his career, Gross started throughout the 2008 season on a Carolina offensive line that set team records for fewest sacks allowed (20) and most yards rushing (2,437) in a single season. He was selected as a starter to the NFC Pro Bowl team.

However, his versatility still proved an asset.

A toe injury to right tackle Jeff Otah in the season finale forced Gross to play right tackle against New Orleans. It was one of 13 different line combinations the Panthers employed during the regular season in which they finished 10th in total offense and seventh in scoring.