‘Worth the wait:’ Shaq Thompson’s patience pays off with 4-year Panthers’ extension.
Shaq Thompson had to sit and wait.
After being drafted 25th overall in the 2015 draft, Thompson played for four years behind veteran Thomas Davis, awaiting his chance while other linebackers drafted around him got more opportunities.
This season, Thompson, playing on his fifth-year option and set to become a free agent in the spring, is in the midst of a career-year.
The Panthers awarded him accordingly, signing the linebacker to a four-year extension Saturday that will keep him with Carolina through 2023. The deal is worth $54.2 million with a max value of $57 million. It also includes $28 million guaranteed.
Thompson said Monday the waiting has paid off.
“(Thomas Davis) was playing at a high level, and there’s no way you could get him off the field with a guy producing like that, and the numbers that he did for this organization and the things he did on and off the field,” Thompson said.
“(The Panthers) allowed me to soak up the game from him and from Luke (Kuechly), and just get an understanding of the defense and of the personnel, what teams like to run against us, an understanding of the organization, just understanding of the community that I was able to soak in for four years.
“But man, it was worth the wait. I’m probably having one of my best years, playing all these games and I’m having fun with it. Even though things are not going good right now, I’m still playing out there with pride.”
Thompson is on pace to start every game this season for the first time in his career. He already has a career-high 103 tackles, including 10 tackles for loss. Thompson has played the third-most snaps of any defensive player (99.2%) on the team.
Thompson said his apprenticeship was a source of mixed emotions, given his respect for Davis.
“There’s guys in my (draft) class that were able to go to the team and start right away, and I was like, ‘man, I wish I could do that’” Thompson said.
“They got that, but I was blessed to have a vet, to learn from a guy who is playing 14 years at a crazy level.”
Thompson said he called Davis to let him know about his new deal before it was made public, and that “you could hear (his) smile.”
Thompson also let Kuechly know, along with his three brothers. Sadly his mother, Patty, passed away at 57 years old in October, but Thompson said he knows that “she’s up there happy” about the news.
Getting the deal done before the 25-year old entered free agency was a win for both the Panthers and Thompson. Carolina has one key defense player signed for years to come and the linebacker doesn’t have to worry about moving his family or leaving the team.
Thompson is one of many Panthers defensive players that has a contract ending this year, including cornerback James Bradberry, who is another high priority for Carolina to re-sign this offseason, and is similar to the linebacker in many ways.
“Me and James, I would say we’re kind of both the same, we’re definitely both quiet,” Thompson said. “Our game and our play, that’s where we talk about leadership. (I’m) not a big rah rah guy, I definitely try to lead by example.”
This story was originally published December 9, 2019 at 4:44 PM with the headline "‘Worth the wait:’ Shaq Thompson’s patience pays off with 4-year Panthers’ extension.."
