I could not agree more:

NFL rumors roundup - NFL Rumors - ESPN After plenty of recent news about contract extensions, another name to watch will be Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly. According to Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer, the Panthers would like to extend Kuechly's deal "this year." The Panthers picked up Kuechly's fifth-year option, which will pay him around $11 million in 2016, in April. Person doesn't expect Justin Houston's new contract to impact negotiations because Houston and Kuechly play very different roles in their respective defenses. However, the inside linebacker market is difficult to read at the moment, as the two largest contracts by per-year average -- Lawrence Timmons ($9.5 million per year) and NaVorro Bowman ($9.1 million per year) -- were signed more than 30 months ago. Considering Kuechly is the only player other than J.J. Watt to take Defensive Player of the Year honors since 2012, the young linebacker has reason to start negotiations well above the salaries of Timmons and Bowman.

Linking over the Person piece:

Chiefs LB Justin Houston’s deal likely won’t impact Panthers’ Luke Kuechly | The Charlotte Observer The Panthers have exercised their fifth-year option on Kuechly, but would like to get a long-term deal done with him this year, according to a league source. In an interview with the Observer in June, Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman declined to discuss the timeline on a new contract for Kuechly. The Panthers have plenty of salary cap room to sign Kuechly before the season starts. After finalizing extensions with quarterback Cam Newton and outside linebacker Thomas Davis in June, the Panthers are $14.5 million below the $143 million cap, according to the NFL Player Association’s salary cap report. "I’d do it now if I’m them," said Joel Corry, a former NFL agent who writes about contracts for cbssports.com. "Because we saw with Justin Houston the longer you wait for a great player, the more it’s going to cost you. So I’d get it done."

I kind of expected this to happen already but it seems to be dragging out. I realize the Panthers have some time and could really wait until next offseason but as Joel Corry states above, Kuechly's price will probably only get higher waiting another year. Better to do it now when they have more leverage. Making only $2.1M this season, he most assuredly will rake in a huge signing bonus once a deal is done. Kuechly should want that day to come sooner than later.

I might be reading a little into this so called rumor but if you recall I did the same thing with Cam Newton and then a new deal was announced less than 48 hours later. I'm trying to drum up some more of that lucky magic.