Panthers Sign LB Shaq Thompson To Four-Year, $54.2M Extension

The Carolina Panthers announced Saturday that they have signed LB Shaq Thompson to a four-year contract extension through the 2023 season. 

Adam Schefter reports that Thompson’s four-year deal is worth $54.2 million and carries a max value of $57 million and includes $28 million guaranteed with a $16 million signing bonus. 

“Shaq is our type of person and our type of player,” said Panthers GM Marty Hurney, via the team’s official site. “He’s proven that he can play linebacker at a very high level, and he’s got all the traits you want. He’s smart, he’s physical, he can run and he’s very versatile. He fits the blueprint for what we want at the position.”

Back in July, Thompson told reporters that he had no doubts about wanting to continue his career with the Panthers and it looks like the two parties were able to get an agreement in place well in advance of free agency. 

Thompson, 25, is a former first-round pick of the Panthers back in 2015. He completed his four-year, $8.808 million rookie contract that included $7.172 million guaranteed and will make a base salary of $9.232 million this season after Carolina picked up his fifth-year option last April. 

Thompson was in line to be an unrestricted free agent next year. 

In 2019, Thompson has appeared in 12 games and recorded 93 total tackles, nine tackles for loss, three sacks, and three pass defenses. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 39 overall linebacker out of 87 qualifying players.