Carolina Panthers linebacker Shaq Thompson signed a two-year contract to reduce his $24.5 million salary cap hit for 2023 and avoid being released.
Thompson's deal was announced by the Panthers on Saturday, one day after reportedly acquiring the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft from the Chicago Bears. Carolina did not disclose terms of the deal. But the Panthers will unload wide receiver DJ Moore in that swap with the Bears, which also helped to reset their cap situation. Moore is owed over $20 million for each of the next three seasons.
Thompson, 28, was a first-round pick in 2015 and part of a fearsome linebacker corps along with Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis.