Extension details for Panthers LB Luke Kuechly: $61.8 million total, $34.4 million guaranteed

While Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly continues to recover from a concussion, the details of the contract extension he signed before his injury are out.

Kuechly’s five-year extension is worth a total of $61.8 million, including $34.4 million in guaranteed money. Kuechly received a $19 million signing bonus, and will pocket a $6 million bonus next year when the Panthers pick up an option for 2021, the final year of the deal.

Kuechly’s per-year average of $12,359,059 – note the nod to Kuechly’s No. 59 jersey – is the richest for an inside linebacker in NFL history.

Kuechly’s salary cap hit this year increased from $4 million to $6.7 million. But by extending Kuechly rather than paying him a guaranteed $11.2 million in 2016 under the fifth-year option of his rookie deal, the Panthers saved about $5 million against the cap next year.

Kuechly’s biggest cap hits will come in 2018 ($13.1 million) and 2019 ($15.5 million).

This story was originally published September 24, 2015 at 5:14 PM with the headline "Extension details for Panthers LB Luke Kuechly: $61.8 million total, $34.4 million guaranteed."