3 trade targets Rams should consider from Panthers in 2019 before training camp

2. Shaq Thompson

From a realistic perspective, the chances of the Panthers willing to give up a starter on defense like Shaq Thompson seems highly unlikely since the team already faces enough pressure trying to recover from what took place last season.

Then again, when has a situation like this ever stopped the Rams before from pulling off surprise trades out of nowhere?

If Los Angeles strongly believed that Thompson could make a major difference on the defensive side of the football, they would do whatever it takes to make a deal like this happen, even if it required on their end to give up a significant draft pick.

There’s a reason why Thompson was a first-round pick all the way back in 2015, and while the Rams seem to be in great shape at the moment with the linebacker position, there is some uncertainty beyond this season.

For starters, Los Angeles knows that players like Clay Matthews are only part of the short-term answers, and just because Dante Fowler Jr. is on a one-year deal to “prove himself worthy” of a future hefty contract doesn’t mean it will happen.

Picking up the fifth-year option on Thompson a few months ago was a no brainer for the Panthers, but also even they know this also means there’s no guarantee with his future either since his asking price to stick around is expected to increase.