With the opening of 2025 NFL season comes free agency, where teams vie to fill their rosters with fresh talent. One player entering free agency for consideration this season is veteran linebacker Shaq Thompson (former Carolina Panther), marking an exciting shift in his career by exploring opportunities outside his former franchise.
Departure from the Carolina Panthers
As the NFL gears up for a new league year starting March 12, 2025, teams are making pivotal decisions regarding their line-ups. For Shaq Thompson, a significant chapter of his career concludes, as the Carolina Panthers have decided not to renew his contract. This decision paves the way for Thompson to step into free agency, offering him an opportunity to bring his talent to a new team. At 30 years old, his experience and skill set will undoubtedly attract attention despite recent challenges.
A New Chapter Awaits
Shaq Thompson’s journey in the NFL thus far has been commendable. Selected as the 25th overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft by the Panthers, Thompson has been a resilient force on the field, participating in 123 games and starting 112 of them over ten seasons. His dedication and performance have made him a cornerstone of the Panthers’ defense.
However, Thompson has recently encountered difficulties during these two seasons. A broken ankle in 2023 and torn Achilles in 2024 have limited his contributions on the field; these setbacks have only allowed for six games during these two seasons compared with his usual resilience.
Thompson has proved his impactful play for the Panthers through four starts this past season; totalling 35 tackles, two tackles for loss and one quarterback hit in just four starts. Now entering free agency as an experienced NFL veteran who may receive veteran minimum contracts of around $1.2 million per season for 2025 season roster consideration, Thompson’s next move will be closely observed as teams weigh whether adding him as part of their teams rosters for that campaign.