Panthers announce 4-year extension for LB Shaq Thompson

The Carolina Panthers have agreed to a four-year contract extension with linebacker Shaq Thompson, per the team website.

According to Adam Schefter at ESPN, Thompson’s new deal is worth up to $57 million that includes $28 million in guaranteed money plus a $16 million signing bonus.

Panthers are giving LB Shaq Thompson a four-year, $54.2 extension with a max value of $57 million that includes $28 million guaranteed and a $16 million signing bonus, Wasserman’s @DHendrickson41 tells ESPN. Vaults him into elite ILB pay territory.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 7, 2019

Thompson is one of the most integral parts of Carolina’s defense and signing him to an extension was always going to be a no-brainer.

Since they picked him in the first round of the 2015 NFL draft, Thompson has played in 68 regular season games for the Panthers, totaling 9.5 sacks, 331 combined tackles (27 for a loss) and 19 QB hits.

With Thompson locked up, the next guy in line for an extension should be cornerback James Bradberry. He’s playing in the last year of his rookie contract and has earned a significant pay-raise.