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[tab_nav type=”three-up” float=”none”][tab_nav_item title=”THE GREAT UNKNOWN” active=”true”][tab_nav_item title=”BACK IN SACRAMENTO”][tab_nav_item title=”0-FOR-39″][tab_nav_item title=”OUT FOR OTAs”][tab_nav_item title=”HUSKIE HISTORY”][tab_nav_item title=”DAVE’S LATEST FUN PHRASE”][/tab_nav][tabs][tab active=”true”]Shaq Thompson’s greatest attribute was his biggest negative during the draft process. Most teams didn’t know what to make of him.Is he a linebacker? A safety? A running back? A hybrid?Since NFL teams aren’t fond of unknowns, Thompson knew little about his fate heading into Thursday night:“I’m still speechless right now because I’ve been talking to my agent, and he’s been saying anywhere from the 20th pick to the 55th pick. So I’ve just had my whole mindset set on the second round because that’s the type of person I am. I don’t expect the best. So I was just sitting, waiting around with my family, and I got the call. It was crazy.”

[/tab][tab]Thompson watched the draft with his family in his hometown of Sacramento. After the Panthers had called, he said there was “a lot of screaming in my ear. Almost popped my eardrums.”KXTV was there, but they apparently missed that part of the celebration.Click here to watch video from Thompson’s draft party.[/tab][tab]For another example of Thompson’s athletic ability strangely turning into a curse, let’s go back to 2012.

The Boston Red Sox were scouring the country for raw athletes when one of their scouts stumbled on Thompson. Even though he hadn’t played baseball since sixth grade, he was talked into joining his high school’s varsity team.Thompson was terrible at the plate but tremendous in the outfield. Amazingly, the Red Sox made him an 18th-round pick in the 2012 MLB draft. His career lasted 13 games after he went 0-for-39 with 37 strikeouts for the Red Sox’s Gulf Coast League affiliate in Fort Myers.”A lot of people will laugh and joke at it, 0-for-39, but hey, some people don’t get drafted and I was lucky enough to get drafted,” Thompson said. “I had a great experience. It opened up my eyes.”[/tab][tab]Thompson is expected to be in Charlotte sometime Friday so the Panthers can officially introduce their first-round pick. He’ll also be in town next Friday for the start of a two-day rookie minicamp, but he has to stay in Seattle while his new team goes through three weeks of OTAs later this month.Washington is a quarter system school, and an NCAA rule requires athletes to be in classes until the quarter is finished. That’s not until June 12, which is the day after OTAs wrap up, but a few days before Carolina’s minicamp begins.“I’m very disappointed. That’s something, just being on the quarter system, that’s just something I have to deal with. But I have a plan for what I’m going to do and work my way in there,” Thompson said. “I’m trying to get my degree. That’s one thing I really want to focus on, and that’s one of the biggest things I really want to accomplish.”The 21-year-old has six more classes left before he earns his degree in America ethnic studies.”I have to go basically two more quarters, so I plan to finish probably after my rookie year. Going back just to train and go to school. I’m the type of guy who if I start something I have to finish it, or else it’s going to bug me.”[/tab][tab]Carolina made history for Washington. The Huskies had never produced three first-round picks until Thursday.Before Thompson went off the board at No. 25, NT Danny Shelton landed with the Browns at No. 12, and the Chiefs took CB Marcus Peters at No. 18.[/tab][tab]Not surprisingly, Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman was never tempted to get on the phone to see what it would take to move up on Thursday:”I just think it’s important for us to keep the first three picks. I really do. There is great value there, and I’m not a big mover that way. And again, part of it is when I told you guys the other day, I don’t subscribe to that ‘you’re one player away’ theory. We’ve finally gotten to a point where we got nine picks. Any legitimate movement in the first round would have cost us a two. I’m comfortable sitting with the way our board is.”And finally, let’s play find Dave’s latest fun phrase:”For me, [Thompson’s] a really complete package. There isn’t anything he isn’t capable of doing on the field that fits us … There is nothing he can’t do physically. He’s shown in college tape he’s a tough kid. He will tag your fanny. And, he prevents touchdowns, and he scores touchdowns. Call me crazy, I kind of like that.”[/tab][/tabs]