Carolina Panthers Pick up Option on 2012 No. 9 Overall Pick
Dec 7, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; Carolina Panthers middle linebacker Luke Kuechly (59) reacts to a defensive stop against the New Orleans Saints during the third quarter of a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Panthers defeated the Saints 41-10. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Mercurial middle linebacker Luke Kuechly is a very important football player to the Carolina Panthers. The 2012 No. 9 overall pick in the has been one of the league’s best defensive players since he’s come into the league. And on today, the Panthers showed just how important he is by picking up a fifth-year option of his contract.
So Kuechly isn’t going anywhere before 2017 and is will be getting a guaranteed $11.1 million in 2016. NFL.com reported that according to the Panthers, his 473 tackles in that time period are better than any other player. The Panthers are among the fortunate at the middle linebacker position of late as before Kuechly, Jon Beason roamed the middle of the defense for them.
Even more fortunate for the Panthers, Kuechly hasn’t missed a start, giving the defense stability. It’s pretty hard for a player at his position to not miss any time in today’s game the way Kuechly has in his first three years. That in itself makes him well worth the money he’ll be making as a result of his option being picked up.
Combined with his play, he definitely deserves to be among the highest paid players at his position if not defensive players period. And at age 24, between now and the end of the 2016 season, barring a catastrophic injury, Kuechly’s play figures only to get better instead of slowing down in any way. So when that time comes, the Panthers will have to sign him to a massive extension in order to keep him.