Kuechly now the highest paid inside backer in NFL history
Thursday was a big day for defensive players in the NFL, several received big time extensions. Carolina middle linebacker Luke Kuechly and the Carolina Panthers agreed to a 5-year, $62 million contract extension. The signing makes Kuechly the highest paid inside linebacker in NFL history. In August, Seattle had come to a contract extension with Bobby Wagner, he held that title for a little more than a month. Even then, everyone knew Luke’s turn was coming up
Kuechly’s extension averages 12.4M per year, making him the highest paid inside linebacker in the history of the NFL.
— Rand Getlin (@Rand_Getlin) September 10, 2015
Kuechly has performed out of his mind since entering the league in 2012, racking up a league best 473 tackles during that time. — Rand Getlin (@Rand_Getlin) September 10, 2015
Carolina drafted Kuechly with the 9th overall selection in the 2012 NFL draft and so far, it’s working out extremely well. Since being drafted out of Boston College, Kuechly has been a two-time Pro-Bowler and a two time First Team All Pro selection. He won the Defensive Rookie of the Year and followed it up with a Defensive Player of the Year award. In his rookie campaign, he made 164 tackles.
Kuechly has made two Pro Bowls, and has the most tackles of any player over his first three seasons since 1994.
— Rand Getlin (@Rand_Getlin) September 10, 2015
Kuechly is also one of only 3 players to win Defensive Player of the Year within his first 2 NFL seasons. Great day for him & the #Panthers. — Rand Getlin (@Rand_Getlin) September 10, 2015
This is a really good move for both of the involved parties. For the Panthers, it gives them a cornerstone defensive player to build around to go with the cornerstone quarterback in Cam Newton they also have signed long term. Being able to have two players with the skill sets each respectively have is going to make Carolina a tough team. For Kuechly, he gets a boatload of money and gets to play the game he loves. Another good part about the signing is the fact that Kuechly is only 24-years old and can only get better.
