Nick Hampton waived by Panthers with injury settlement; former Rams depth now available
Nick Hampton’s offseason with the Carolina Panthers ended when the team waived him with an injury settlement, removing a veteran special-teams piece from the NFC depth market.
Per a report from Heavy – Los Angeles Rams, Hampton went unclaimed on waivers, reverted to injured reserve, and then reached a settlement that clears him to sign with any club once the settlement window passes.
Key Takeaways
- The Carolina Panthers waived Nick Hampton with an injury settlement after he reverted to injured reserve following the waiver process.
- Hampton was a fifth-round pick (161st overall) by the Los Angeles Rams in the 2023 NFL Draft and spent three seasons with the franchise.
- Most of Hampton’s NFL work has come on special teams, which is the central factor determining his roster value going forward.
- Because of the settlement terms, Hampton is free to sign elsewhere but faces a short waiting period before he could return to the Panthers.
Nick Hampton’s Panthers exit and career context
Nick Hampton signed with the Panthers in free agency after three seasons in the Rams organization, where he appeared in 36 games.
The Panthers’ roster actions saw Hampton clear waivers, revert to injured reserve, and then agree to an injury settlement that releases him from IR and makes him a free agent once the settlement timeframe concludes.
Why the Panthers moved on from Nick Hampton
The Panthers added veteran tight end depth as part of a broader roster reshuffle, and Hampton was among the corresponding cuts as positional priorities were set ahead of the regular season.
Hampton’s NFL profile is defined primarily by his special-teams role rather than defensive production, which constrained his standing on the active roster while injured.
The settlement route lets the club free a roster slot while compensating him for the injury period in line with standard practice on injury settlements.
Hampton career snaps and verified career facts
| Category | Verified career detail |
|---|---|
| Draft status | Selected in the fifth round, 161st overall in the 2023 NFL Draft |
| Games played | 36 games over three seasons with the Rams |
| Special teams snaps | 510 snaps on special teams per Pro Football Reference |
| Defensive snaps | 188 snaps on defense per Pro Football Reference |
| Counting stats | 17 total tackles and 2 pass deflections in his career |
SEC Rosters and Special Teams Implications
An injury settlement converts Hampton into a short-term free agent, which affects how professional clubs plug late-season special-teams and depth needs.
For NFL clubs like the Rams, Hampton’s familiarity with the system and verified special-teams snaps present a low-friction option should the team seek immediate depth at outside linebacker or on coverage units.
College programs and evaluators, including those in the SEC, monitor pro personnel trends and special-teams usage when assessing prospect trajectories and roster-construction models ahead of draft cycles.
