3 surprise cuts the Panthers could make this offseason

2. LB Shaq Thompson

The Panthers’ defense has fallen on hard times in recent seasons. For the majority of the Ron Rivera Era, the team fielded one of the better units in the league. From 2012-15, Carolina was ranked in the Top 10 in the NFL each year in terms of the fewest yards allowed. In ’17, the franchise’s last playoff campaign, Rivera’ club was seventh in total defense, including third vs. the run.

But the past three seasons has seen the franchise finish 15th, 23rd and 18th, respectively, in yards allowed per game. In ’19, only three teams permitted more yards per game on the ground. This past year, the club was burned for 45 offensive touchdowns – including 28 scores through the air. Yes, there was improvement shown from the previous season but more progress must be made.

Linebacker Shaq Thompson was the 25th overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft and has enjoyed a steady but unspectacular career to date. This past season, he played in all 16 games for the first time in his career and finished with a career-best 114 tackles. But the club could also improve its salary cap numbers (via Spotrac) if it parted ways with the six-year veteran. Stay tuned.