Jump to content

  • Welcome!

    Register and log in easily with Twitter or Google accounts!

    Or simply create a new Huddle account. 

    Members receive fewer ads , access our dark theme, and the ability to join the discussion!

     

Panthers Pick Up Option on Shaq Thompson

kungfoodude

By kungfoodude,
in Carolina Panthers

Recommended Posts

kungfoodude Grand Master

kungfoodude

Posted
Posted

https://247sports.com/nfl/carolina-panthers/Bolt/Report-Panthers-to-pick-up-2019-option-on-Shaq-Thompson-116697323

Quote

In what was arguably the most obvious expected move of the offseason for the Carolina Panthers, the team has elected to pick up its fifth-year option for the 2019 season on linebacker Shaq Thompson, Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer reports.

All first-round picks since the latest collective bargaining agreement signed in 2011 between the NFL and NFLPA are given fifth-year team options as part of their rookie contracts. It allows the team to keep the player for one more year past the standard four-year rookie contract, and at a reasonable price. Teams must decide on picking up the option the offseason prior to the player's contract expiring. Thompson's current deal is set to run out out after the 2018 season. The Panthers' official deadline to pick up Thompson's option for the following season expires on May 3.

The Panthers have used their fifth-year option on every player since the rule came to pass: Cam Newton (2014), Luke Kuechly (2015), Star Lotulelei (2016) and Kelvin Benjamin (2017). Thompson was drafted 25th overall out of Washington in the 2015 NFL Draft. For players selected 11-32, their option salary is the average of the third through 25th highest-paid players at their position. Last year's linebacker option value for a player of Thompson's nature was around $8.7 million.

Thompson's role in the Panthers defense has increased each of the past three seasons. He started 10 games in 2015 with 50 tackles, opened 12 games in 2016 with 56 tackles, and made a career-high 14 starts in 2017 with 61 tackles and two sacks. Despite Thompson's supreme athleticism and his high marks on the defensive side of the football, his snaps have still been limited due to the role of star linebackers Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis. But Davis, who's set to retire following the 2018 season, said himself following the Panthers' playoff loss in New Orleans in January that Thompson deserved more playing time going forward, and the veteran linebacker indicated he would take at least somewhat of a diminished role as a result.

The former hybrid linebacker/safety defender from Washington has made a nice transition to the NFL in Carolina's defense, playing a big role in nickel packages with the ability to cover tight ends and make tackles in space.

Still just 23 years of age, Thompson's best days as a defender are in front of him, and the Panthers likely are going to do everything they can to keep him in Charlotte as long as possible. Picking up next year's option is a productive - albeit obvious - first step.

 

Hopefully we can lock him up to a longer term deal in the offseason. Looks like he would have a projected $8-10 million cap figure for 2019 if we let things stand as they are.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • PMH4OWPW7JD2TDGWZKTOYL2T3E.jpg

  • Topics

  • Posts

    • TD alt
      C Mc. Gotta love this guy!!

      By TD alt · Posted

      In my opinion Fitterer was probably right about not paying McCaffrey. Now not wanting to "pay RBs" in my opinion isn't something you want to set in stone, to me it all comes down to the individual.
    • TD alt
      Scourton isn't signed (& apparently it's a thing)

      By TD alt · Posted

      Maybe I'm just not understanding, but everywhere that I have read says that signing bonuses go against the cap prorated by as much as five years. The following example uses Andrew Luck's rookie contract as an example. "Take Andrew Luck, the first overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft. Luck signed a four-year contract with the Colts worth $22.1 million and included a $14.5 million signing bonus. Rather than a $14.5 million cap hit in 2012, the Colts spread out his signing bonus over the life of his contract. The hit against the cap would be $3.625 million per year over four years instead of a direct cap hit of $14.5 million directly in 2012. This gave the Colts more leverage and cap flexibility in signing other players." https://www.the33rdteam.com/nfl-signing-bonuses-explained/ I don't know why some of you think that signing bonuses aren't counted against the cap over the length of the contract, but whatever.   "The bonus with a signing is usually the most garish aspect of a rookie contract. Bonus is the immediate cash players receive when they ink a deal. It factors into the cap, but only for the whole contract duration, in terms of salary cap calculations. In the case of Bryce Young’s $24.6 million signing bonus, that’s prorated to approximately $6.15 million per season over a four-year deal. This format allows teams to handle the cap and provides rookies with some short-term fiscal stability, which is important given the high injury risk in this league." https://collegefootballnetwork.com/how-rookie-contracts-work-in-the-nfl/ I understand how signing bonuses can be a useful tool in order to manage the cap, and as one of the article suggests, signing bonuses may become important if you have a tight cap, but the bill is always going to come due. I'm not necessarily referring to you Tuka, but it seems to me that others simply don't want to understand that fact which is why they're reacting to what I'm saying negatively. How odd. In any event, I have a better general understanding of why signing bonuses are used now, and it's generally to fit salaries under the cap. Surely players, whether they be rookies or not, love a signing bonus because they get a good portion of their money up front. This in turn gives them more security and probably amounts to tax benefits as well. I also understand why teams would not want to use signing bonuses, particularly for players or draftees who have a higher probability of being gone before a contract even ends.
    • jfra78
      Are all veterinarians this greedy ?

      By jfra78 · Posted

      Get any shot you can at humane society, so much cheaper
×
×
  • Create New...