Shaq Thompson

Buffalo Bills, Linebacker
Age: 31y-10m-15d (Apr 21, 1994)
Exp: 11 Years
Country: US
College: Washington
Drafted: Round 1 (#25 overall), 2015
Agent(s): Doug Hendrickson, C.J. Laboy (Wasserman)
Career Earnings

$72,839,860

2025-2025 Free Agent

Shaq Thompson signed a 1 year, $1,255,000 contract with the Buffalo Bills, including an average annual salary of $1,255,000.
Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $1,255,000
Average Salary:
$1,255,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
GTD at Sign:
Total GTD:
Free Agent:
2026 / UFA
MANAGE CONTRACT
Year Age Cap HitAnnual Cap % League Cap Cash Annual Cash Cumulative Dead Cap Annual
2025 31 $1,030,000 0.37% $1,255,000 $1,255,000 -
2026 32
UFA
Year Age Base P5 Salary Cap Hit Cap % League Dead Cap
2025 31 $1,255,000 $1,030,000 0.37% -
2026 32
UFA
Year Age Base P5 Salary Cash Total Cash Cumulative Cash Remaining
2025 31 $1,255,000 $1,255,000 $1,255,000 $1,255,000
Source: NFL contract specifics generally collected from verified reports.

2024-2024 Free Agent

Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $3,105,000
Average Salary:
$3,105,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
GTD at Sign:
$1,710,000
Total GTD:
$1,710,000
Free Agent:
2025 / UFA
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2023-2024 Extension

Contract Terms:
2 yr(s) / $12,600,000
Average Salary:
$6,300,000
Signing Bonus:
$5,300,000
GTD at Sign:
$8,500,000
Total GTD:
$8,500,000
Free Agent:
2025 / UFA
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2019-2023 Rookie Extension

Contract Terms:
4 yr(s) / $54,433,000
Average Salary:
$13,608,250
Signing Bonus:
$16,000,000
GTD at Sign:
$27,525,000
Total GTD:
$27,525,000
Free Agent:
2024 / UFA
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2015-2019 Rookie

Contract Terms:
4 yr(s) / $8,808,724
Average Salary:
$2,202,181
Signing Bonus:
$4,666,344
GTD at Sign:
$7,172,534
Total GTD:
$7,172,534
Free Agent:
2020 / UFA
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Seasons

11 Years

Career Earnings thru 2026

$75,311,447

Earnings w/ Different Teams

2 teams

Earnings Per Year

Year Age Team(s) Status Cash Total Cash Cumulative Awards
2015 21
Active
$5,101,344
$5,101,344
2016 22
Active
Active
$835,397
$835,397
$5,936,741
$6,772,138
2017 23
Active
$1,235,793
$8,007,931
2018 24
Injured
Injured
$1,636,190
$1,636,190
$9,644,121
$11,280,311
2019 25
Active
$15,547,701
$26,828,012
2020 26
Active
$12,089,090
$38,917,102
2021 27
Active
$10,891,754
$49,808,856
2022 28
Active
$12,000,000
$61,808,856
2023 29
Injured
$6,558,822
$68,367,678
2024 30
Injured
$5,688,769
$74,056,447
2025 31
Active
$1,255,000
$75,311,447
Total      
$75,311,447
$75,311,447
Total
$75,311,447

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Roster Restructure Option Incentives Cash Cumulative
10 $21,258,587 $25,966,344 $2,812,134 $19,270,000 $890,000 $2,695,560 $74,056,447
1 $1,255,000 - - - - - $1,255,000
Year Team(s) Age Base Signing Roster Restructure Option Workout Incentives Cash Total Cash Cumulative
2015
21
$435,000
$4,666,344
$5,101,344
$5,101,344
2016
22
$835,397
$835,397
$835,397
$835,397
$5,936,741
$6,772,138
2017
23
$1,235,793
$1,235,793
$8,007,931
2018
24
$936,000
$936,000
$700,190
$700,190
$1,636,190
$1,636,190
$9,644,121
$11,280,311
2019
25
$7,525,000
$8,000,000
$22,701
$15,547,701
$26,828,012
2020
26
$4,000,000
$8,000,000
$89,090
$12,089,090
$38,917,102
2021
27
$990,000
$9,190,000
$411,754
$300,000
$10,891,754
$49,808,856
2022
28
$1,120,000
$10,080,000
$500,000
$300,000
$12,000,000
$61,808,856
2023
29
$1,200,000
$5,300,000
$6,558,822
$68,367,678
2024
30
$1,210,000
$500,000
$290,000
$2,583,769
$5,688,769
$74,056,447
2025
31
$1,255,000
$1,255,000
$75,311,447
Total
$22,513,587
$25,966,344
$19,270,000
$2,812,134
$890,000
$2,695,560
$75,311,447
$75,311,447
Total
$22,513,587
$25,966,344
$19,270,000
$2,812,134
$890,000
$2,695,560
$75,311,447

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Roster Restructure Option Incentives Cash Cumulative
10 $21,258,587 $25,966,344 $2,812,134 $19,270,000 $890,000 $2,695,560 $74,056,447
1 $1,255,000 - - - - - $1,255,000

Injuries

Year Weeks Reason
2024 CAR 5 - 18 Achilles
2023 CAR 3 - 18 Leg
2021 CAR 17 - 17 COVID-19
2020 CAR 14 - 14 COVID-19
2018 CAR 16 - 17 Shoulder
  • Jun 10, 2025 Signed a 1 year $1.255 million contract with Buffalo (BUF)
  • Mar 11, 2023 Signed a 2 year $12.6 million contract extension with Carolina (CAR)
  • Mar 07, 2022 Converted $10.08M of 2022 base salary into signing bonus, clearing $5.04M of cap space with Carolina (CAR)
  • Mar 10, 2021 Converted $9.19M of 2021 salary into bonus, clearing $7.352M of cap space with Carolina (CAR)
  • Dec 16, 2020 Fined $10,000 Conduct detrimental to the team (breaking COVID-19 protocol)
  • Dec 07, 2019 Signed a 4 year $54.43 million contract extension with Carolina (CAR)
  • Mar 26, 2018 Carolina (CAR) exercised a $9.232 million option for 2019
  • May 07, 2015 Signed a 4 year $8.808 million contract with Carolina (CAR)
  • Apr 30, 2015 Drafted by Carolina (CAR): Round 1 (#25 overall)

Fines

Date Reason Fine Amount
Dec 16, 2020 Conduct detrimental to the team (breaking COVID-19 protocol) $10,000
Fines: 1 $10,000
Year Team GP GS Snaps Snaps% Sack Tackles Total Tackles Solo Tackles Assisted FFum Int
2025 BUF 12 6 417 36.84 1 54 31 23 1 0
2024 CAR 4 4 245 23.72 0 35 19 16 0 0
2023 CAR 2 2 69 6.01 0 8 6 2 0 0
2022 CAR 17 17 1,090 107.28 1 135 78 57 0 0
2021 CAR 14 13 798 69.45 2 104 65 39 0 2
2020 CAR 16 15 1,031 99.90 0 113 63 50 2 0
2019 CAR 14 14 984 87.30 3 109 75 34 0 0
2018 CAR 14 11 597 59.90 4 79 50 29 1 0
2017 CAR 14 14 644 64.30 2 61 41 20 1 0
2016 CAR 14 12 535 50.00 0 55 39 16 0 1
2015 CAR 14 10 366 33.20 1 50 30 18 0 0

Calculated Market Value

$2.4M Avg. Annual Salary

Market Value

  • 1 years, $2,396,249
  • Avg. Salary: $2,396,249
  • NFL Rank: 574
  • LB Rank: 41

Current Contract

  • Free Agent: 2026
  • Avg. Salary: $1,255,000

Comparable Players

We've selected the following players based on their age, contract status, and statistical production to compare Shaq Thompson to.

Player Length Value Avg. Salary Age When Signed
Denzel Perryman 1 $2,655,000 $2,655,000 32
Zach Cunningham 1 $1,255,000 $1,255,000 30
Matt Milano 1 $6,306,500 $6,306,500 30
Matt Judon 1 $3,000,000 $3,000,000 33
Averages 1 $3,304,125 $3,304,125 31.3

Base Calculated Value

After adjusting the above contracts as if signed at Thompson's current age (31), a linear regression is performed, providing us with the following initial value.

Length Value Avg. Salary
1 $2,893,846 $2,893,846

Statistical Comparisons

Now we'll compare our variables and Thompson statistically over the two seasons prior to their signing. In this case we're analyzing: GP%, Snaps %, Tackles/Gm, Sacks/Gm, Stops/Gm, Catch Rate/Yr, QB Hits/Gm, Rating

Player GP% Snaps % Tackles/Gm Sacks/Gm Stops/Gm Catch Rate/Yr QB Hits/Gm Rating
Denzel Perryman
2023-2024
 67.65 44.53 3.65 0.07 2.43 84.70 0.13 61.25
Zach Cunningham
2023-2024
 58.82 31.44 2.75 0.00 2.25 36.90 0.12 71.20
Matt Milano
2023-2024
 26.47 43.46 2.78 0.00 1.89 78.25 0.33 60.50
Matt Judon
2023-2024
 61.76 56.05 1.67 0.45 1.29 83.35 0.38 56.60
Average 53.68 43.87 2.71 0.13 1.97 70.80 0.24 62.39
Shaq Thompson
2024-2025
 47.06 30.27 3.12 0.06 2.13 86.65 0.13 66.10
Pct Change -12.33 -31.00 15.13 -53.85 8.12 -22.39 -45.83 5.95
Median Prime % Change -17.36%
Average Prime % Change -17.03%

Calculated Market Value: Shaq Thompson

After applying our Prime % figures into our base calculated value, we're given two values. The average of these values becomes our current calculated market value.

Terms Avg. Salary
1 years, $2,396,249 $2,396,249
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