The Most Overlooked Move of the Offseason? Bringing Shaq Back

Shaq Thompson is the heart and soul of the Panthers' defense.

From the moment the offseason began, Carolina Panthers veteran linebacker Shaq Thompson was viewed as a cut candidate due to his $24 million cap hit in 2023. 

GM Scott Fitterer and VP of Football Administration Samir Suleiman reworked a handful of deals to help create cap space ahead of free agency. One of those reworked deals was for Thompson, keeping the second-longest tenured player on the roster. 

"I think he's a heck of a player," Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero stated earlier this offseason. "He [fits] very well. He's an inside backer. He's a three-down player. He's a guy that can play the run game. He's good in zone coverage. He can see the quarterback. He can match running backs. He fits just right."

The Panthers could have easily gone in a different direction but they understood the importance of Shaq's presence on the field and in the locker room. Linebackers coach Peter Hansen has felt that leadership already in the short time he's been around Thompson.

"Every guy on the defense looks to him first as far as what the next call is, where should we stand, everything. His leadership first and foremost has really stood out to me. Just the way he sets the front with his communication. I mean, he's louder than anybody else and is more confident in what he's saying than anybody else. I think that's the first part that we're so excited about and then now that OTAs have started, we can really see some full-speed stuff and within that has been impressive. I think we're all really really excited to have him."

In this 3-4 scheme, Thompson will kick inside as Evero stated which is a position he has some familiarity with. 

"I think he's adjusted great," Hansen said. "He's a smart, wily veteran out there. He's practicing like one of the high-level linebackers in the league. Felt like we had a couple high-level guys in the past within our schemes and he looks the part just like the previous guys we've worked with."

It may not have received the same amount of attention as the trade up to No. 1 or the signings of Miles Sanders, Adam Thielen, and others, but bringing back Shaq Thompson just might end up being one of the most important decisions the Panthers made this offseason.

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