4 players the Carolina Panthers could trade to NY Jets for draft picks
By Dean Jones
Shaq Thompson – Carolina Panthers OLB
The New York Jets have some solid young pieces to build around on defense, led by stud defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. However, they could also use a strong veteran presence or two to give their chances of progression a real shot in the arm next season.
Perhaps someone like Shaq Thompson would be of interest if Daniel Jeremiah’s report comes to fruition before the draft.
The outside linebacker is coming off arguably the best campaign of his pro career in 2021. Although this would come with a dead-cap figure of more than $12 million if agreed before June 1, it’s a price the Carolina Panthers might be willing to pay if it guarantees them a quarterback that can get them into playoff contention.
Thompson is set to count a whopping $18.26 million against the cap next season unless a restructure is agreed. However, the Washington product needs to be paid at some point and removing him from the equation entirely is another option to consider coming off a strong campaign.
This would leave the Panthers dangerously short of options at the second level with Haason Reddick, Jermaine Carter, and Frankie Luvu all out of contract. But the time might have arrived for the Panthers to focus on the quarterback and worry about the rest later.