Panthers exercise 5th-year option on Cam Newton
The Carolina Panthers already let one veteran receiver slip away this offseason, but they're doing their best to secure franchise quarterback Cam Newton, at least in the short term.
The Panthers have exercised their fifth-year option on QB Cam Newton. He's under contract thru 2015 now.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) April 24, 2014
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 draft will play the 2014 campaign under the terms of his original rookie deal (averaging $5.5 million per season over four years), but he's in for a huge raise in 2015.
Cam Newton's option for 2015 is worth $14.67 million. With the $22.03 million he's due from '11-14, 5-year take will be about $36.7 million.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) April 24, 2014
The next step for Carolina brass will be negotiating a long-term extension with Newton to keep him with the team well past 2015. The two-time Pro Bowler led the Panthers to the playoffs last season, completing 61.7 percent of his passes and throwing for 24 touchdowns.