It's a slow news weekend beyond the draft but the announcement Luke Kuechly will be a Panther at least two more seasons is welcome news.
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.
Of course the bets part of this tidbit of news is Dave Gettleman's initial response when asked a couple weeks ago if the Panthers would exercise Kuechly's 5th year option:
Carolina Panthers exercise Luke Kuechly’s option | The Charlotte Observer The Charlotte Observer
Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman has said before he would have to “have brain damage not to” exercise the option on Kuechly.