Panthers LB Luke Kuechly wins Defensive Rookie of the Year

Kuechly won the DROY award Saturday. (Ryan Wilson, CBSSports.com)

NEW ORLEANS -- Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly, the first rookie to lead the NFL in tackles since 2007, was named Defensive Rookie of the Year at the NFL Honors award show on Saturday.

Kuechly led the league with 164 tackles and was a critical part of a Panthers defense that drastically improved over the course of the season.

That improvement coincided with Kuechly being moved to the middle linebacker position, where he played at Boston College.