On June 10, the Buffalo Bills signed veteran linebacker Shaq Thompson, who might be their most impactful free-agent signing and certainly the most underrated.

Thompson, 31, played under Bills head coach Sean McDermott for two seasons before McDermott took Buffalo’s head coaching job. During those two seasons, Thompson recorded 106 tackles, an interception, two fumble recoveries, eight tackles for loss, a sack, and a touchdown.

When Buffalo signed Thompson in late June, it seemed far from a guarantee he would make the 53-man roster, let alone have a significant role on the team this year.

The Sacramento, California native didn’t see his first snaps until Week 3, and didn’t play more than 50% of the snaps until Week 5, according to footballguys.com. Since Bills starting middle linebacker Terrel Bernard got hurt in Week 12, Thompson has played 58, 93, and 100 percent of snaps on defense.

In the 31-year-old’s last three games, he’s recorded 19 tackles, a tackle for loss, and a quarterback hit. 

However, in the last three contests with Thompson starting, the Buffalo defense has allowed an average of 255 total yards per game, which is the fourth-best, and 76 rushing yards per outing, which is the second-best. For reference, on the season, the Bills’ defense surrenders an average of 307.1 yards per game, and 135.2 rushing yards per game.

Correlation doesn’t equal causation, but Thompson’s stellar play has brought up the question of what the Bills do with Bernard when healthy. With Bernard being one of two captains on the team, it’s clear that management, coaching, and players all value him.  

When Bernard’s healthy again, the Bills appear to have three main options. The first is to give Bernard his starting spot back. The second is to bench Bernard and start Thompson. And the third and possibly most likely option is to move either Thompson or Bernard to the WILL or SAM linebacker.

One thing stands as certain: Thompson’s play has made it extremely difficult for the coaching staff to take him out of the game. When the Bills’ defense has Thompson on the field, they play much better.

Photo Courtesy: Kyle Birmingham of BuffaloBills.com