3 options the Carolina Panthers have with Shaq Thompson in 2021

Carolina Panthers give Shaq Thompson one more chance in 2021

There could be plenty of player turnover within the Carolina Panthers for a second straight year. Some of it will be necessary, but keeping some semblance of continuity will also be crucial if the organization wants to enter the playoff picture in 2021.

That could mean the Panthers give Shaq Thompson a reprieve of sorts and keep him around in 2021. This would represent a tremendous leap of faith in a player who had big intentions to step up and fill the gaping void left by Luke Kuechly following his shock retirement but failed to meet expectations.

If Thompson continues to perform inadequately, then Carolina can part ways with the player in 2022 and save themselves $8.8 million in cap space when finances are going to look more promising.

Over the Cap projects the Panthers to have more than $134 million in salary-cap space next year, and that’s before cuts are made. This will make them bigger players in free agency and even get some of their more influential roster members such as D.J. Moore, Robby Anderson, and Donte Jackson tied down to long-term deals in keeping with their production.

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Thompson will be entering the last chance saloon with the Panthers if he’s on the roster in 2021. Carolina should strengthen this area of the field – especially if Jeremy Chinn moves back to his preferred position of safety – which might bring more in the way of consistency out of one of the few remaining players from the Super Bowl 50 team.