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          NFL Nation

          Panthers officially exercise fifth-year option on Luke Kuechly

          • David Newton, ESPN Staff WriterApr 26, 2015, 12:15 PM ET
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              David Newton is an NFL reporter at ESPN and covers the Carolina Panthers. Newton began covering Carolina in 1995 and came to ESPN in 2006 as a NASCAR reporter before joining NFL Nation in 2013. You can follow Newton on Twitter at @DNewtonespn.
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          CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Carolina Panthers have officially exercised the fifth-year option on middle linebacker Luke Kuechly.

          General manager Dave Gettleman said at the owners meeting last month the move would be made, so it was merely a formality that had to take place before May 3. The team announced on Twitter it had been done.

          The option guarantees the 2013 NFL Defensive Player of the Year $11.6 million in 2016.

          Carolina still plans at some point to sign the two-time Pro Bowl selection to a long-term deal.