The Carolina Panthers' wild spending spree keeps on going.
The team gave linebacker Jon Beason a five-year, $50 million contract extension with $25 million guaranteed, a league source told NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora on Thursday night.
Beason later confirmed that he had received a new deal, writing on Twitter: "Turn on the tube. Jon Beason the highest paid MLB (middle linebacker) in the league. The news breaks now."
Beason is just the latest core Panthers player to receive a huge deal, following defensive end Charles Johnson, linebackers Thomas Davis and James Anderson, and running back DeAngelo Williams, all of whom agreed to terms the previous two days.
The Panthers have all three of their starting linebackers -- Beason, Anderson and Davis -- locked up through the 2015 season.
The team also has agreed to terms with kicker Olindo Mare, defensive tackle Ron Edwards and safety Sean Considine in free agency and traded with the Chicago Bears for tight end Greg Olsen, who received a new long-term deal, too.
The news of Beason's contract didn't come as a surprise. Panthers general manager Marty Hurney said Wednesday night that re-signing Beason to a long-term contract was a "very high priority" and something he wanted done soon.
Hurney added that the Panthers also want a long-term deal for Pro Bowl center Ryan Kalil, who received the franchise tag this season.
Last season, Beason struggled early after volunteering to move to outside linebacker following an injury to Davis. However, he later moved inside after Dan Connor went down with a hip injury, and he went on to have a productive season with 162 tackles and one sack.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
