Can Shaq Thompson push Thomas Davis off the Panthers Roster?

The Carolina Panthers have an important question to answer this season. Can Shaq Thompson push Thomas Davis off the Panthers roster? Thompson was a first round pick in the 2015 draft and was clearly picked to replace Thomas Davis.

Thompson like Davis was a tweener coming out of college who could have possibly played safety or linebacker. The problem is that Shaq Thompson has not played like a first round pick in his limited chances to play.

The Carolina Panthers on paper run a 4-3 defense but it's really a 4-2 most of the time because they run a lot of nickel defense. Thompson often is the odd man out with Thomas Davis and Luke Kuechly being on the field.

Shaq Thompson has started 22 and played in 28 NFL games in his two seasons. Thompson has shown occasional flashes but not much more. Thompson has 69 solo and 33 assisted tackles, one interception, and one sack in this years.

I don't think Shaq Thompson will ever be as good as Thomas Davis, but father time is undefeated. Davis has gone on WFNZ at least twice this off season and mentioned that he wanted a new contract. Right now Thomas Davis will be hitting free agency after this season.

Davis is the only player in NFL history to come back from 3 ACL injuries to the same knee. I think missing major chuncks of 3 seasons has extended the career of Thomas Davis. He didn't take the wear and tear that he would have in those years.Davis is still at the top of his game but the Panthers want Shaq Thompson to replace him and I think Thomas Davis is playing his last season with the Carolina Panthers.  

Thomas Davis photo By original: U.S. Army National Guard Photo by Sgt. Leticia Samuels, North Carolina National Guard Public Affairs/Released North Carolina National Guardderivative: Diddykong1130 - 131118-Z-ZK506-041, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=39491986