Draft Exam Review: Round 1

The NFL draft is complete and so are the bulk of the signings of undrafted free agents. I will be analyzing one pick a day this week plus my favorite undrafted free agents to make the roster or practice squad. Keep Pounding!

Round 1, Pick 25: OLB Shaq Thompson, University of Washington

I have to admit: initially, I was not overly excited about this pick. I understood the rationale behind it, in that if the value was not present at offensive tackle, the Panthers should not have hesitated to take the best player available. To that point I do not think that there was a tackle worth the #25 pick in Carolina's scheme, which emphasizes mobility to protect Cam and power in the running game. However, I was a huge fan of Breshad Perriman out of UCF, as was Baltimore, apparently, who selected the big wide receiver with the very next pick. There is good news, though. Having taken a few days to think about it and watch more tape, I am convinced that Thompson will end up being the perfect pick for the Panthers given who was available. And here is why:

The Panthers have had a very good defense the past few years. Very good, but not elite. When I think of the elite defenses of the 2000s, I think of the Steelers, the Ravens, the Seahawks, and the 49ers in various years. Carolina is in a tier below them for one painfully obvious reason: a lack of a playmaker. The Panthers boast an above-average defensive line, especially on the interior. They have a great linebacker duo who fly sideline-to-sideline and are excellent tacklers. The defensive backfield is young but was vastly improved towards the end of last season, with cornerbacks Josh Norman and Bene' Benwikere stepping up in conjunction with free safety Tre' Boston's insertion into the lineup. None of these levels of the defense boasts a player whose primary role is to wreak havoc and force turnovers.

Shaq Thompson can be that player. Watching his highlight video above and a few videos on DraftBreakdown.com, the main theme I kept seeing was how Thompson has a knack for getting his hands on the ball, be it through forcing fumbles, scooping loose balls, or making interceptions. More than that, Thompson has a nose for the end zone once he latches on to the ball, which speaks to why he played running back for the Huskies at times. He also does well in coverage, which is why I can see him fulfilling a role similar to Troy Polumalu or Kam Chancellor as a tight end-neutralizing, blitzing nightmare for opposing offensive coordinators. Defensive coordinator Sean McDermott will be able to line Thompson up all over the formation to confuse and distract offensive linemen. He is the piece Carolina needed to transform into an elite defense. I strongly expect the Panthers to have a top three defense in yards allowed, points allowed, and turnovers created, provided good health.

My grade: 86/100

I do not know that Thompson will be playing a high percentage of plays early on in the season, but I expect him to make a big impact over the second half of the season. I can see him being a part of some sub-packages and special teams at first. As he gets more comfortable with the nuances of NFL defensive schemes, I think Thompson will prove a lot of draft analysts wrong. Ron Rivera and the Panthers have a plan for this athletic playmaker, the success of which will determine how well the first round went.

Projection: 16 games, 60 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 2 interceptions, 1 defensive touchdown