Tag: Shaq Thompson

Panthers LB Shaq Thompson named training camp trade candidate

Could Shaq Thompson be gone before the summer ends?

The 2024 campaign really feels like it’ll be the last one between linebacker Shaq Thompson and the Carolina Panthers. But could it be over before it even starts?

Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine recently named six players on rebuilding teams who could be on the trade block during training camp. He lists the 30-year-old Thompson, who he says may be an impact piece for a contender:

His next few seasons might be better served on a team that’s ready to compete. The Panthers also need draft capital after dealing with a compromised allotment of picks in the 2024 draft.

Thompson’s versatility could be useful to a contender, and the Panthers just used a third-round pick on Trevin Wallace. He could play alongside Josey Jewell at linebacker in a defense that is going to go through some growing pains anyway.

Thompson, who has played his entire nine-year NFL career in Carolina, already acknowledged the reality of his situation. The 2015 first-round pick told reporters at the end of last month’s mandatory minicamp that he may very well be auditioning for the rest of the league in 2024.

“I love it here,” Thompson stated. “I been here for nine, going on to 10 years. I mean, this is all I know. I would love to retire here, but that’s in my fate. And when I say that—I control what I control, I control myself on that field. If I play well, I stay here. If not, I’m out. I understand and know the business. This is my last year, so I’m playing for the Panthers and I’m playing for 31 other teams.

“But my main focus is, shoot, we gotta win. We gotta get more than two games. We gotta make the playoffs.”

2024 is the final season of Thompson’s contract.

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Shaq Thompson on 2024 season: ‘I’m playing for the Panthers and for 31 other teams’

Panthers LB Shaq Thompson: “I would love to retire here, but that’s in my fate.”

Shaq Thompson may not know much outside of the Carolina Panthers, but he certainly knows how the NFL works.

Earlier this offseason, the veteran linebacker stayed put with the only organization he’s been with as a pro—agreeing to a restructured deal for 2024. So Thompson, who will be playing under an expiring contract, was asked about the decision after the team’s second and final outing of mandatory minicamp this afternoon.

“I love it here,” he stated on Wednesday. “I been here for nine, going on to 10 years. I mean, this is all I know. I would love to retire here, but that’s in my fate. And when I say that—I control what I control, I control myself on that field. If I play well, I stay here. If not, I’m out. I understand and know the business. This is my last year, so I’m playing for the Panthers and I’m playing for 31 other teams.

“But my main focus is, shoot, we gotta win. We gotta get more than two games. We gotta make the playoffs.”

Thompson, whose ninth year was cut short by a fractured fibula, wasn’t on the field for 15 of the team’s 17 games in 2023. The 2015 first-round pick was coming into the season relatively hot, too—as he totaled a career-high 135 tackles the campaign prior.

But even with the devastating injury, the freshly-turned 30-year-old believes he still has a good chunk of football left to play.

“I think I got about five in me,” he replied when asked how many years he thinks he has left. “I spent four behind TD [Thomas Davis] and Luke [Kuechly], broke my leg last year to add an extra year. That’s five right there.”

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Panthers great Luke Kuechly gives thoughts on 3rd-round pick Trevin Wallace

Former Panthers LB Luke Kuechly was asked about the team’s third-round pick Trevin Wallace.

Carolina Panthers radio voice Luke Kuechly may know a thing or two about playing defense in the NFL. So, team reporter Kristen Balboni asked him about one of their newest linebackers.

Balboni recently interviewed Kuechly as part of “The Panthers Huddle Offseason Special,” a 23-minute video released by the organization on Friday. While going over a few of Carolina’s 2024 draft picks, the future Hall of Famer spoke about third-round pick and former University of Kentucky linebacker Trevin Wallace.

“He’s athletic, he can run, he’s explosive and I’m curious to see kinda how they play him,” Kuechly said. “Can he rush? Can he come off the edge? Can you put him on a running back and just say, ‘Hey, cover him. It’s gonna be man coverage, use your athletic ability, give him a little bit of technique.'”

Wallace displayed that athleticism and explosiveness during his collegiate career with the Wildcats. Between 2022 and 2023, the 6-foot-1, 237-pounder recorded 14.0 sacks, three interceptions and a forced fumble.

Kuechly then likened Wallace’s situation to his own, stating he should have a pretty good mentor to learn from during his rookie campaign.

“So if I’m him and I’m comin’ in, I got two older guys to learn from,” he added. “Shaq [Thompson] is fantastic. And I think I was very fortunate to play with a guy like Thomas [Davis]. And now I think Shaq will probably look forward to the opportunity to help a young guy out. So I’m excited about him.”

Well, if you say so, Mr. Defensive Player of the Year/seven-time All-Pro/seven-time Pro Bowler.

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Panthers GM Dan Morgan asked if Trevin Wallace is Shaq Thompson’s successor

Was the Panthers’ selection of LB Trevin Wallace a succession plan for 30-year-old Shaq Thompson?

Carolina Panthers president of football operations/general manager Dan Morgan may know a thing or two about being a linebacker—seeing as though he was one. So Friday’s selection of Trevin Wallace will surely be one to keep an eye on.

Morgan and head coach Dave Canales spoke to reporters following their second day of action in the 2024 NFL draft. He was asked if the choice of Wallace, a promising youngster at the linebacker position, is the start of a succession plan to veteran Shaq Thompson.

“I don’t know if it’s like Shaq’s successor,” Morgan replied. “Shaq’s played at a high level for a long time. Obviously, we think a lot of Shaq, we think a lot of Josey [Jewell]. We’re really excited about those guys.”

Thompson, who turned 30 years old last week, will be entering his 10th NFL campaign in 2024. He’ll also be entering the final year of his contract, which could mean the end of his long tenure in Carolina.

If that’s ultimately the case, the Panthers may have a potential replacement with the 72nd overall pick in Wallace. But for now, Morgan is hoping the 21-year-old just finds his place as a pro.

“I just want Trevin to come in here—and I think Dave would say the same thing—come in here, learn, compete, earn the respect of these veterans out there. I think that’s the main thing just coming in as a rookie—just growing, getting behind the right veteran leadership, just kinda find his way.”

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Panthers LB Shaq Thompson switching back to No. 54

We hope you saved your No. 54 jerseys!

Shaq Thompson is breaking out the throwback threads for his 10th season with the Carolina Panthers.

On Thursday evening, the Panthers’ social media squad confirmed what the soon-to-be 30-year-old linebacker hinted at almost two weeks ago . . .

Thompson spent his first six NFL campaigns in the No. 54 uniform. While donning those digits, the 2015 first-round pick amassed 470 combined tackles, 9.5 sacks, one interception, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries over 70 games.

He’d dial it down to No. 7 beginning in 2021. Thompson stayed in the single digit for three years—recording 247 combined tackles, 2.5 sacks and two interceptions in 33 outings.

Even with the Panthers entering a fresh era under president of football operations/general manager Dan Morgan and head coach Dave Canales, the team restructured Thompson’s deal to keep him around for the 2024 season. The move reduced his base pay this season to $3.1 million, with $1.7 million guaranteed, and cleared up approximately $3 million in cap space for the team.

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Panthers restructure Shaq Thompson’s contract for 2024 season

Shaq Thompson will be back in Carolina for a 10th season.

Shaq Thompson is about to make it an even decade in the Queen City.

According to ESPN senior NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler, the Carolina Panthers have recently restructured Thompson’s contract. The move reduces his base pay this season to $3.1 million, with $1.7 million guaranteed, and clears up approximately $3 million in cap space for the team.

The Panthers reworked Thompson’s deal last offseason, which gave him an extra year with the organization. Prior to that adjustment, the contract was set to a $24.4 million cap hit for 2023 and would have sent him into free agency after the season.

Thompson will be entering his 10th campaign in Carolina, a run that began as the 25th overall selection of the 2015 NFL draft. He’s started in 108 of his 119 career games—having amassed 717 combined tackles, 12.0 sacks, three interceptions and four forced fumbles.

His 2023 season was cut painfully short after he sustained a fractured fibula in the Week 2 loss to the New Orleans Saints.

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Panthers CB Jaycee Horn after eventful start to free agency: ‘Ima miss my dawgs’

Panthers CB Jaycee Horn is feeling the effects of a painful start to free agency.

Carolina Panthers president of football operations and general manager Dan Morgan may on the hunt for some dawgs right now, but he’s still lost a few in the process.

On Monday, the home locker room over at Bank of America Stadium picked up a few very painful vacancies. After we learned that the Panthers were planning to part ways with safety Vonn Bell, they fell short in trying to retain linebacker Frankie Luvu and then traded two-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Brian Burns to the New York Giants.

The losses hit quite hard for many involved with the organization, including starting cornerback Jaycee Horn . . .

Horn wasn’t the only player to feel the effects of the eventful day. Longtime Panthers linebacker Shaq Thompson posted, in a since deleted tweet, a similar sentiment—stating that it was a “sad day.”

Along with Bell, Luvu and Burns, the Panthers defense is also expected to be without corner Donte Jackson in 2024. All four were starters for the unit this past season.

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Panthers LB Shaq Thompson: ‘It’s a sad day’

Shaq Thompson summed up a pretty rough day for Panthers fans.

Shaq Thompson was all of us on Monday.

The opening of this year’s legal tampering period brought some punishing blows for the Carolina Panthers and their fans. We started the eventful and exhausting afternoon by taking the expected release of safety Vonn Bell on the chin and went on to eat two gut punches with the loss of linebacker Frankie Luvu and the trade of pass rusher Brian Burns.

With the defense losing three key members, one of its leaders tweeted this in the painful aftermath:

 

Thompson then went on to see another fellow backer in Yetur Gross-Matos find a new home, as he reportedly has a two-year, $18 million deal in place with the San Francisco 49ers. The dearly departed will also include tight end Hayden Hurst, center Bradley Bozeman and cornerback Donte Jackson—all of whom are expected to be let go before March 16.

Sadly enough, the second-longest tenured Panther may be next. Thompson, who turns 30 years old in April, is entering the final season of a reworked pact.

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Panthers’ Walter Payton Man of the Year Award nominees since 2014

Here are the last 10 Panthers who have bene nominated for the prestigious Walter Payton Man of the Year Award

Only one Carolina Panther is up for some hardware at tonight’s NFL Honors—and that’s center Bradley Bozeman, who is the team’s nominee for the 2023 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. The “White Rhino” has not only exhibited excellence on the field, but he’s been a presence in the community off of it—through the charitable work of the Bradley and Nikki Bozeman Foundation.

So, to bring him a little luck, let’s get some good vibes going and look back at the organization’s last 10 nominees for the prestigious honor.