Rapid Reactions: Panthers Draft LB/S Shaq Thompson in 1st Round

Bill Voth
2 years ago
Categories: 2015 NFL Draft, News
Tags: Carolina Panthers, Dave Gettleman, NFL Draft, Shaq Thompson, Thomas Davis

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• As the draft got closer, the sense was the Panthers felt two targets would be at the top of their board when they went on the clock. When the Cardinals nabbed offensive tackle D.J. Humphries at No. 24, general manager Dave Gettleman wasn’t disappointed. It took him seconds to turn in the card for linebacker/safety Shaq Thompson.

• Carolina could again face some heat about not using a first-round pick on an offensive tackle, but as Gettleman has promised time and again, he’s not going to reach to fill a position. When Humphries went to Arizona, Thompson was ‘the best player available.’

• The Panthers see Thompson as an eventual replacement for Thomas Davis, who ironically announced the pick on stage in Chicago. Since they both played linebacker and safety in college, many have likened the two. But earlier this month, Davis told me:

“I don’t know where that comparison came from, but I’ll take it … [He’s] a better athlete than I was at this point. You see his ball skills, he’s not a 4.6 kid. If you watch him with the ball in his hand, he continues to run away from people. He comes up; he makes big plays.”

• His versatility is a huge plus, but some have worried about finding the right fit for Thompson. He’ll likely begin his career in Carolina at weakside linebacker, which would slide Davis over to the strong side in a 4-3 defense. The Panthers could also play less nickel, using Thompson’s size and athleticism against big, athletic guys like Jimmy Graham when offenses use two tight ends.

• Thompson ran a disappointing 4.64 at February’s combine, but Gettleman doesn’t spend much time dwelling on 40-yard dash times. He cares more about game speed, and when the lights come on, Thompson can fly around the field.

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