— Strong safety Kurt Coleman may be next in line to receive a contract extension from the Carolina Panthers.

Coleman’s representatives and the Panthers have been in preliminary contract discussions since June and continue to “keep an open dialogue” moving forward, a league source said Tuesday.

Preliminary contract discussions have been held between Panthers and Kurt Coleman's camp, according to a league source. #PanthersBlitz #WRAL — Jon Stout (@JonStout89) July 5, 2016

The second-year Panther is in his final season of a two-year, $2.8 million base contract that pays Coleman a yearly average of $1.4 million with added yearly incentives.

Coleman tallied 53 tackles, nine passes defended and a team-high seven interceptions – tied for second in the National Football League – in 15 games at free safety last season for Carolina.

With the departure of former starting strong safety Roman Harper, Coleman will shift to strong safety and second-year Panther Tre Boston will assume the role of starting free safety.

The former Ohio State Buckeye was selected with the No. 244 overall pick in the seventh round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. Coleman played his first four seasons in Philadelphia before signing with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2014.

Through six seasons, Coleman has garnered 244 tackles, 26 passes defended, 17 interceptions and one sack in 89 games.

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