Carolina Panthers, Luke Kuechly strike $62.5M deal

A new five-year, $62.5 million contract with the Carolina Panthers will make Luke Kuechly the highest-paid linebacker in NFL history.

NFL Network first reported the deal, which averages $12.4 million per season.

Kuechly, 24, has 473 tackles in three seasons since he was drafted ninth overall in the 2012 draft. He was the 2012 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and in 2013 was the youngest player to win the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award.

"Luke is a special player and has been a big reason why we've had success on defense," Panthers coach Ron Rivera said. "He has the skill set you want in a middle linebacker -- a great first step, the ability to play downhill and drop into coverage -- and he has great command of our defense and what we want to do schematically. He's a perfect fit for us and I'm excited we got the deal done."

Kuechly's contract trumps the deals for other top-paid inside linebackers, the most recent being Seattle Seahawks middle linebacker Bobby Wagner. Wagner signed a four-year, $43 million extension on Aug. 3.

"Luke is one of the best young players in the NFL and I'm very excited that the extension is done," Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman said. "Like Cam Newton's extension, this contract allows us to do the long-term planning and have the fixed cost that we need to continue to build the best team possible."