This offseason will be a pivotal one for the Chicago Bears. After naming Ben Johnson the head coach and bringing in other coaches to change the culture around the Bears, Chicago will need to bring in the right players.
Free agency opens in March and will give teams the golden opportunity to bring some new talent into the building. On Monday, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that the Carolina Panthers are letting linebacker Shaq Thompson hit free agency and won't re-sign him.
With him hitting the open market, the Bears should look at adding Thompson.
Panthers recently informed veteran linebacker Shaq Thompson that he will be allowed to become a free agent and the team does not plan to re-sign him. pic.twitter.com/LD1clAXAJT
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 24, 2025
Bears Should Look Into Shaq Thompson This Free Agency
Thompson came into the league as a first-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers. He spent his entire 10-year career with the Panthers but has been hit with injuries over the past two seasons.
In 2023, Thompson broke his ankle during a Week 2 contest before tearing his Achilles in Week 4 this past season.
While he looks to stay healthy in 2025 and regain the juice he once had, Thompson could be a solid depth piece for the Bears. Chicago has a terrific duo of T.J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds at linebacker, but having a veteran as a backup is always a good idea.
In 123 career games (112 starts), Thompson has notched 752 total tackles, 54 TFLs, 32 QB hits, 26 pass breakups, and 12 sacks. He is a player who can come in and play a limited role for the Bears while stepping in if someone goes down with an injury.
According to Spotrac, the Bears have the fourth-most cap space available in the league ($74 million), so they have more than enough money to spend on a one-year flier. The fact that he's coming off two season-ending injuries in back-to-back seasons means it won't cost much to land him.
Thompson is the type of player the Bears should look into.