Bills Sign Former Panthers Linebacker Shaq Thompson

BREAKING: Bills Sign Former Panthers Linebacker Shaq Thompson to 1-Year Deal in Surprise Offseason Move

In a move that sent shockwaves across the NFL landscape, the Buffalo Bills have officially signed veteran linebacker Shaq Thompson to a one-year deal, the team confirmed Tuesday afternoon. The signing adds veteran leadership, experience, and versatility to a defense in the midst of transition following key departures over the past two seasons.

Thompson, 30, spent the first nine years of his NFL career with the Carolina Panthers, becoming a cornerstone of their defense and a locker room leader. A former first-round pick (25th overall in 2015), he racked up over 820 career tackles, 12.5 sacks, and four interceptions during his time in Carolina, earning the reputation as one of the league’s most dependable and athletic off-ball linebackers.

Now, he heads to Orchard Park with a fresh opportunity and the Bills are hoping it’s the perfect match at just the right time.

Buffalo Reloading on Defense

The Bills’ defense has seen major personnel shifts in recent years, including the departures of Tremaine Edmunds, Jordan Poyer, and Leonard Floyd. With rising star Terrel Bernard holding down the middle linebacker role, the addition of Shaq Thompson provides a much-needed veteran presence, someone who can line up alongside Bernard or rotate in as a Swiss army knife on defense.

The signing also reunites Thompson with former Panthers assistant and current Bills defensive coordinator Al Holcomb, who worked closely with him in Carolina. That familiarity with scheme and communication could accelerate Thompson’s integration into Buffalo’s defensive plans.

A Proving Ground Year

For Thompson, the one-year deal is more than a stopgap it’s a proving ground.

He missed a significant portion of the 2023 season with a fractured fibula and returned in 2024 in a more limited role. While questions lingered about his long-term health and burst, Thompson showed flashes of his old form late last year, reminding teams that he can still bring elite-level instincts and sideline-to-sideline speed when healthy.

Now he joins a Bills team that’s not only aiming to stay atop the AFC East but also to break through in the postseason after multiple years of heartbreak. The addition of Thompson signals that Buffalo is not ready to rebuild they’re retooling with veteran pieces who know what it takes to win.

What This Means for Buffalo

With minicamps underway and training camp on the horizon, the Bills are making a clear push to reinforce their defensive identity. Thompson’s signing adds depth, flexibility, and much-needed experience to a linebacker group that was otherwise lacking a seasoned voice.

He’ll likely compete for a starting role immediately, and at worst, serve as a high-level rotational piece and mentor to younger defenders like Bernard and Dorian Williams.

For now, one thing’s clear: The Bills aren’t playing it safe this offseason they’re going all in.

And Shaq Thompson just became their latest weapon in the war for AFC supremacy.