The Carolina Panthers announced the signing of former Los Angeles Rams linebacker Nick Hampton.
Hampton originally joined the Rams as a fifth-round pick out of Appalachian State in the 2023 NFL Draft, but never truly made an impact with the team.
He appeared in 36 games over the last three seasons, recording 17 tackles and two passes defensed. Hampton mostly contributed on special teams as he played just 188 total defensive snaps.
Hampton was cut by the Rams this past December before eventually re-signing with the team’s practice squad. He was elevated to the active roster on several occasions last year and wound up appearing in 15 games between the regular season and playoffs.
Hampton will now look for a fresh start on a Panthers team that exceeded expectations last season. They won the NFC South for the first time since 2015 and nearly pulled off an upset of the Rams in the Wild Card Round.
The Panthers, looking to get back to the playoffs in 2026, were aggressive at the start of the free agency signing period, adding the likes of Jaelan Phillips and Devin Lloyd.
Hampton joins Cobie Durant (Dallas Cowboys), Tutu Atwell (Miami Dolphins) and Roger McCreary (Detroit Lions) as Rams free agents who signed with new teams this offseason. Darious Williams also retired after spending six seasons in L.A. across two separate stints.
Rams’ updated picks in 2026 NFL Draft
The 2026 NFL Draft order has been updated with compensatory picks and trades officially being announced, which includes a total of seven selections for the Rams.
They hold the No. 13 overall pick (first round), No. 61 (second round), No. 93 (round three), No. 207 (sixth round), and Nos. 232, 251 and 252 (seventh round). L.A. entered the offseason with 10 total picks, but traded three in the blockbuster deal for All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie.
The 2026 NFL Draft will be held in Pittsburgh, Pa., from April 23-25.
