Shaquille Green Thompson is an American football linebacker for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Washington Huskies, earning first-team All-American honors in 2014. He also had a short stint playing baseball with the Boston Red Sox organization as part of their rookie team in the Gulf Coast League. Since being drafted he has played a hybrid safety and linebacker position for the Panthers, also known as "the Big Nickel".

The 2015 NFL draft was the 80th annual meeting of National Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligible football players. It took place in Chicago at the Auditorium Theatre and in Grant Park, from April 30 to May 2. This was the first NFL draft held outside New York City in fifty years. The 2015 NFL draft was the first to feature a companion outdoor fair, where fans would be able to see the Commissioner during the selection on the Auditorium Theatre stage from across the street in the park; this area was called Draft Town. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers held the right to select first because they had the league's worst record in the previous season. The Arizona Cardinals made the final pick in the draft, commonly called Mr. Irrelevant.