Shaq
Thompson.
Shaq
Thompson.
Washington· 6'0"· 228 lb· 4.64s 40
The ideal defensive system for Shaq Thompson would be a hybrid 4-3, similar to a Cover-3 match, that emphasizes speed and versatility over sheer size at the linebacker position.
He can immediately contribute as a nickel linebacker or weakside (Will) linebacker, with high-end ceiling as a full-time, three-down starter who covers a lot of ground in space.
Thompson's value would be diminished in a strict 3-4 two-gap scheme that prioritizes larger, run-stuffing linebackers.
His athleticism and instinct for coverage make him a valuable asset in modern defenses that demand adaptability and play-making ability from their linebackers.
Selected #25 overall in Round 1 of the 2015 NFL Draft by Carolina Panthers out of Washington.
Relative Athletic Score (Kent Lee Platte) benchmarks combine/pro-day numbers against every measured prospect at the position since 1987. 10.00 is elite; 5.00 is average.
— — — positional median (p50)
- 40 yd
- 4.64sp50
- Vertical
- 33.5inp50
- Broad jump
- 117inp50
- Three-cone
- 6.99sp50
- Shuttle
- 4.08sp50
- Bench
- —rep
| Yr | Team | G | Tkl | Sk | Int | PD | FF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Washington | — | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2013 | Washington | — | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | Washington | — | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | — | — | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
A dash means the figure is not published by a source we trust — never a zero we invented.
Everything above is the pre-draft evaluation. This section is what actually happened — updated year over year.
Shaq Thompson has played his entire career with the Carolina Panthers. He has been a consistent starting linebacker and a key defensive player.