Carolina Panthers: What to expect from new tight end Colin Thompson

The Carolina Panthers added to their tight end room prior to the NFL Draft with their signing of Colin Thompson, but what can he bring to the franchise?

Head coach Matt Rhule has boosted his tight end options with the free-agent signing of Colin Thompson, according to agency ProStar Sports. The Carolina Panthers now possess additional depth at the position following the departure of veteran Greg Olsen to the Seattle Seahawks.

Thompson is no stranger to Rhule’s offense having played under the coach during his time at Temple. This should aid his transition to the organization during a difficult time for players and coaches alike due to social distancing measures relating to the coronavirus pandemic.

The 6-foot-4 player has little NFL experience. He had a couple of near-misses at making a full roster with the New York Giants and Chicago Bears. Thompson most recently played in the XFL with the Tampa Bay Vipers, hauling in just one catch for 13 yards.

Thompson projects to be a fringe player that has a slim chance of making the 53-man roster. But Rhule will already know the sort of thing he can bring to their offense.

He has a good build for a tight end and is comfortable blocking on running downs. Thompson possesses plenty of tenacity and seemed to work well in the Owls’ offense under Rhule when presented with an opportunity.

The player managed to finish his three college seasons with 19 receptions, 209 yards, and one touchdown. He will now get the chance to finally earn a full NFL roster spot at a position where the Panthers have plenty of questions.

Olsen’s loss despite his advancing years will be hard to replace. He emerged as an exceptional pass-catching option both to move the chains on intermediate routes and in the red zone.

The Panthers expect big things from Ian Thomas in 2020. He has shown glimpses of promise during his career in Carolina and should take another leap forward with more time on the field.

Where Thompson fits in, if he does at all, remains to be seen. He is the latest former player to link up once again with Rhule and it adds another intriguing element to Panthers’ training camp, whenever that gets underway.

If the head coach is confident Thompson can contribute in 2020, it also frees up another Draft pick for the organization. They have just eight selections before the big night and were expected to take a tight end in the mid-rounds in case things don’t work out as expected with Thomas.

The move possibly eliminates the prospect of Carolina taking a tight end in this year’s Draft and focus on more pressing needs. But Thompson lacks experience and expectations regarding an immediate contribution should be relatively low.