4 potential destinations for Panthers LB Shaq Thompson in 2023

Detroit Lions

There was no team hotter than the Detroit Lions down the stretch. It didn’t come with a shock playoff berth, but it’s provided the organization with renewed hope under the expert guidance of Dan Campbell.

Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson opting to remain in Detroit despite multiple interview requests is another positive. But for the Lions to take that next leap, they have to sure things up defensively.

Someone like Shaq Thompson is exactly what Detroit needs at their defensive second level. A veteran with bags of experience capable of marshaling the unit and producing the sort of consistency that was missing for long periods in 2022.

While the Lions haven’t been seen as an attractive destination in recent years, that’s changed now. Campbell’s no-nonsense approach brings the best out in his players, which is similar to what Thompson experienced when Steve Wilks became Carolina’s interim head coach.

Thompson is one of the last remaining memories of Carolina’s glory days in the mid-2010s. Losing him would be a blow – there’s no getting away from that – but the one-time Washington star in college must also prepare for a change of scenery all things considered.

The NFL is a business before anything else. And the Panthers would be wise not to include any form of sentiment in their decision-making this offseason.