Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
After patiently waiting nearly three hours, the Carolina Panthers finally made their first round selection. With the No. 25 pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, the Panthers selected Washington linebacker/safety Shaq Thompson.
Thompson has been given the dreaded “tweener” label because he doesn’t have a clear-cut position to play in the NFL. He can do just about anything asked of him on the defensive side of the ball, so the Panthers have a lot of options when it comes to their first-round pick. Thompson is extremely athletic, a sure tackler, and an underrated cover man.
Thompson’s ability to cover tight ends will determine just how successful he becomes. As the NFL continues to become increasingly more of a pass-happy league, players like Thompson are incredibly value. It’s not easy finding players that excel both in pass coverage and in run support, and that’s exactly what Thompson is.
I think the Panthers plan to use Thompson in a similar way to what the Seattle Seahawks do with Kam Chancellor. You’ll see a lot of him in the box and jumping up in run support to lay big hits on running backs.
Thompson actually has shown an ability to be a reliable running back. Don’t be surprised if the Panthers install a package or two with Thompson out of the wildcat or lined up next to Cam Newton for some read option plays. Carolina added a serious playmaker on Thursday with Shaq Thompson.
