Luke Kuechly Contract Option Picked Up by Panthers: Latest Details and Reaction

Luke Kuechly will remain with the Carolina Panthers for at least two more seasons after the team picked up the fifth-year option on his rookie contract.

The Panthers' official Twitter account confirmed the news Saturday, and the Black and Blue Review provided the financial details:

Kuechly's contract has been a source of discussion this offseason, though it was just a matter of time before the Panthers exercised his option.

General manager Dave Gettleman told ESPN.com's David Newton at the owners meetings in March that picking up the option was essentially a no-brainer.

Speaking to Jonathan Jones of The Charlotte Observer, Kuechly didn't have any concerns about his contract with the May 3 deadline approaching for the Panthers to exercise the option.

“I’m honestly not worried about it,” Kuechly said. “I’m excited to be here, I think you guys know that by now, and that stuff will take care of itself. I’m just here to run around and play football.”

It's not hard to figure out why the Panthers wanted to keep Kuechly around for the foreseeable future. The 24-year-old has been a monster in the middle of Carolina's defense with 473 combined tackles, 27 passes defended, seven interceptions and six sacks, per NFL.com.

Kuechly has started all 48 games for the Panthers since being drafted ninth overall in 2012. He won Defensive Rookie of the Year in his first season and Defensive Player of the Year after helping Carolina win the NFC South in 2013. He has also been named an All-Pro in each of the last two seasons.

While expected, this news will help ensure that Carolina's front seven will continue to be an area of strength over the next two years, at least.

With a solid front four heading into 2015, Kuechly is primed to continue racking up tackles and piling up eye-opening numbers for the Panthers defense.