The next big name who is going to get a contract extension is middle linebacker Luke Kuechly of the Carolina Panthers, with the two sides not seemingly in a situation that’s going to be dragged on for quite some time.
Kuechly, a two-time Pro Bowler and twice on the first-team All-Pro is possibly the best MLB in the NFL, playing all 48 games in 2012-2014 and three more times in the postseason. The situation looked a bit iffy and unclear a week ago, but the talks have been heating up and heading towards a positive place, in which there’s a deal that’s struck.
Kuechly is already under contract for his fifth-year option worth $11.058 million (he’s a ninth overall pick from 2012). But the size of his extension will obviously have a lot to do with the money Bobby Wagner (Seattle Seahawks) and Lavonte David (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) landed over the last few weeks in their own contract negotiations.
Wagner signed a four-year, $43 million extension with the Seahawks that includes an $8 million signing bonus. David signed a five-year, $50.5 million extension, with a $5 million roster bonus upon signing his contract and his full guarantee is $10.78 million and $14.8 million guaranteed for injury only.