4 Panthers players who could be potential scapegoats in 2021
By Dean Jones
Shaq Thompson – Carolina Panthers OLB
Although Shaq Thompson went over 100 tackles for a second straight season in 2020, his overall production was not what the Carolina Panthers expected in the immediate aftermath of Luke Kuechly’s retirement.
The former Washington standout was inconsistent at best during the first half of the campaign and even though things got a little better when Tahir Whitehead was removed from the lineup, Thompson failed to meet expectations of potentially being Carolina’s leader on defense moving forward.
If there was one takeaway from Thompson’s production last season, it’s that he needs a strong figure alongside him on the interior.
The Panthers picked up Denzel Perryman from the Los Angeles Chargers in free agency – which should help a lot – so if things don’t improve at the second level then the 2015 first-round pick will carry the can.
Thompson restrictured his contract this offseason to give Carolina some extra breathing space financially. This means there won’t be any real value in releasing the player until 2023, so it’s vital complacency doesn’t set in as a result.
There are some obvious limitations where Thompson is concerned. But the Panthers acquired plenty of talent for their front seven this offseason and he could be the one who benefits most if everything clicks into place right away.