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About the Author: Scott Reynolds
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Former Bucs wide receiver Deven Thompkins has signed with another team as NFL training camps open this week. The Carolina Panthers inked Thompkins to a one-year deal, according to ESPN insider Adam Schefter. Thompkins, who had been with Tampa Bay for the past two seasons, played under new Panthers head coach Dave Canales last year when Canales was Tampa Bay’s offensive coordinator.
Panthers signed former Buccaneers wide receiver Deven Thompkins, who spent the past two seasons with the Buccaneers, where he was with Carolina HC Dave Canales.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 25, 2024
Bucs Released Deven Thompkins Prior To Mini-Camp
Former Bucs WR Coach Brad Idzik and former Bucs WR Deven Thompkins – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
The Bucs waived Thompkins on May 30 with an injury designation. But there was also news that Thompkins was in the midst of a messy divorce with accusations of possible abuse against the former Tampa Bay receiver from his wife. But the NFL investigated the abuse allegations and did not face any punishment from the league, which gave NFL teams the green light 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, a backup receiver in Tampa Bay from last year. The Panthers had one of the worst wide receiver corps in the league in 2023 and spent their first draft pick on South Carolina wide receiver Xavier Legette, in addition to signing Moore and adding Diontae Johnson and Thompkins.
Thompkins was going to have a hard time making the Bucs roster this year with the depth at wide receiver. In addition to having proven, 1,000-yard veteran receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, the team is high on second-year players Trey Palmer and Rakim Jarrett. Plus Tampa Bay spent a third-round pick on Washington wide receiver Jalen McMillan and signed veteran receiver Sterling Shepard, who played with Baker Mayfield at Oklahoma.
The Bucs are also high on undrafted free agent receiver Kameron Johnson from Barton College, so Thompkins likely would have been the odd-man-out in Tampa Bay this year. But in Carolina, working with offensive coordinator Brad Idzik, who was Tampa Bay’s receivers coach last year, he has a better chance to make the Panthers’ 53-man roster.
