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Carolina Panthers general manager, Dave Gettleman, said after the 2015 NFL Draft that the team had narrowed their choices for the 25th overall pick down to two players: Florida OT D.J. Humphries and Washington LB Shaq Thompson. When the Arizona Cardinals ended up selecting Humphries at No. 24, it made the decision easy for the Panthers.
Many draft analysts thought that Thompson was a reach by the Panthers because he was considered a tweener. He was thought to be too small to play linebacker in the NFL and too big to play safety. What Gettleman, and the Panthers’ coaches, saw was a tremendously gifted playmaker and freakish athlete.
While at Washington, Thompson recorded 146 solo tackles, 233 total, 15 TFLs, and 3.5 sacks, during his three years on campus. He also posted five career interceptions, three forced fumbles, and scored three return touchdowns. Thompson wasn’t just a great defender, he also ran for 456 yards on 61 carries, a 7.5 YPC average, and scored two rushing touchdowns in 2014, as a running back for the Huskies.
At the combine, Thompson measured in at only 6 feet tall and 228 pounds, but he ran a 4.64-second 40-yard dash. A teammate of Thompson’s with the Panthers, Thomas Davis, had the exact same label place on him when he came out of college, and he’s turned into one of the Panthers’ all-time great linebackers. Davis measured 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds, and he ran a 4.60-second 40-yard dash at the 2005 combine. The similarities are astounding and Davis will be able to take Thompson under his wing and turn him into an even better player.
With Thompson joining Davis and former NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Luke Kuechly, the trio gives the Panthers the most dynamic group of linebackers in the NFL. All three guys are cut from the same cloth. They are great tacklers, possess tremendous speed for linebackers, and read and react as quick as any other player in the league. Combine all three, and there’s the potential of the Panthers having the top defense in the NFL in 2015.
While Thompson’s selection didn’t fill any needs for the Panthers, his presence takes a strength, and makes it stronger. Look for the Panthers’ defense to create more turnovers, record more TFLs, and make it more difficult for their opponents to run the ball. If all three of these things come to fruition, then the Panthers will lock up their third consecutive NFC South title, and Thompson would be a favorite to win the 2015 NFC Defensive Rookie of the Year Award.
Jason Fletcher is a Featured Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @JasonFletcher25, “Like” him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google+.
