CHARLOTTE -- Luke Kuechly been awarded many things over his stellar three-year NFL career as one of the league's most prominent inside linebackers. Rookie of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Pro Bowl, All-Pro, Butkus Award, and a handful of seasonal and all-time NFL records are credentials that not surprisingly earn him high acclaim.
Until Thursday, one thing Kuechly did not have under his resume was a max contract to expand off his four-year, $12.58 million deal. However, the Carolina Panthers and the former Boston College Eagle completed negotiations Thursday, inking Kuechly the contract he deserves as the league's best at the inside linebacker position.
Kuechly, 24, put pen to paper on a five-year agreement worth $62.5 million. That stamps him with a new label, the league's highest paid linebacker by salary. Not just this season. In NFL history.
Since being drafted ninth overall by the Panthers in the 2012 NFL Draft, Kuechly has racked up 473 tackles in 48 consecutive starts, as well as seven interceptions and three fumble recoveries, among the above-listed honor list that could stretch miles.
Also a team leader, Kuechly has a major presence in the locker room and is monumental with his on-field impact. When an offense faces Carolina, it's Kuechly who the quarterback studies and prepares for, awaiting the intense chess match of every game between signal caller and play recognizer.
With additions such as safety Roman Harper and corner Charles Tillman, who ages yet like wine, the Carolina defense has built an impenetrable front seven with a much-improve secondary prepared to handle the tough quarterbacks of the NFC South in Matt Ryan and Drew Brees.
The youth of players like Kuechly and Star Lotulelei, combined with the veteran craftiness of Thomas Davis, Charles Johnson, and Tillman, among many others, this Panthers defense is set to come together into one of the league's next best defenses, just like Seattle built up their Legion of Boom lockdown defense.
GM Dave Gettleman is on the right track by ensuring that Kuechly and his defense will be in Carolina for the long term. The Panthers are set to hopefully have an improved campaign from the poor showing in 2014 that luckily led to a playoff berth and win.