With NFL training camps opening this week, former Buccaneers wide receiver Deven Thompkins has signed with another team. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Carolina Panthers have signed Thompkins to a one-year contract. Thompkins has been with Tampa Bay for the past two seasons, and last year he played under new Panthers head coach Dave Canales. Canales was Tampa Bay’s offensive coordinator.
The Panthers signed former Buccaneers wide receiver Deven Thompkins, who spent the past two seasons with the Buccaneers under Carolina head coach Dave Canales.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 25, 2024
Buccaneers waive Deven Thompkins before minicamp
Former Buccaneers WR coach Brad Idzik with former Buccaneers WR Deven Tompkins – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
The Buccaneers waived Thompkins on May 30. He was placed on the injured list. However, news also broke that Tompkins was in the midst of a divorce proceeding with his wife over allegations of abuse. The NFL investigated the abuse allegations. He faced no punishment from the league, and NFL teams were given permission to sign him this summer.
Thompkins is the second Tampa Bay receiver to join the Panthers this offseason. Dave Canales and Carolina also signed David Moore, who was a backup receiver for Tampa Bay last year. The Panthers have the league’s worst wide receiver corps in 2023, spending a first-round draft pick on South Carolina wide receiver Xavier Leggett and signing Moore to add Diontaie Johnson and Thompkins.
Thompkins will have a tough time making the Buccaneers’ roster this year because of the depth of the wide receiver position. In addition to proven veterans Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, the team has high-profile second-year players Trey Palmer and Rakim Jarrett. Tampa Bay also acquired Washington wide receiver Jalen McMillan with a third-round pick and signed veteran receiver Sterling Shepard, who played with Baker Mayfield at Oklahoma.
The Buccaneers are also keeping an eye on undrafted free agent wide receiver Kameron Johnson out of Barton College, which would likely have put Thompkins off the bench in Tampa Bay this year, but in Carolina he’ll pair with offensive coordinator Brad Idzik, who was Tampa Bay’s wide receivers coach last year, giving him a better chance of making the Panthers’ 53-man roster.
