The second-longest tenured Carolina Panther will continue to be tenured.
As first reported by NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport on Saturday night, and later confirmed by the team itself, linebacker Shaq Thompson will remain in Charlotte on a reworked two-year deal.
Thompson was entering the final season of a four-year, $54.4 million contract extension—one that carried a $24.4 million cap hit for 2023. Had the Panthers released the eight-year veteran, they would have saved approximately $13.1 million of space heading into the start of free agency this upcoming week.
Carolina selected the University of Washington product in the first round of the 2015 NFL draft. He’s gone on to play in 117 games for the franchise since—amassing 709 combined tackles, 52 tackles for a loss, 12.0 sacks, four forced fumbles and three interceptions.
2021 and 2022 were, perhaps, the best two pro campaigns for Thompson. The 28-year-old, who started and played in all 17 games this past season, is fresh off a career-high 135 tackles.
