5 Panthers Immediately on Thin Ice to Begin 2025 Offseason

2. CB Jaycee Horn

The Panthers are officially at a crossroads with Jaycee Horn. Before the start of the 2024 season, the Panthers made the polarizing decision of picking up his fifth-year option. The former first-round pick had only played 22 games in his first three seasons in the league.

That decision has paid dividends this year, as Horn had the healthiest and potentially most productive season of his career. He played over 98% of defensive snaps in 15 games and recorded an interception, two sacks, five tackles for loss, and two QB hits. He only allowed a 53.2% completion rate when targeted and graded as one of the best cornerbacks in pass rush per Pro Football Focus.

However, the Panthers continued to have one of the worst defenses in the NFL. They allowed the most points of any team in the league and graded as the worst defensive unit per PFF.

Now, the Panthers have to decide whether to sign their former eighth-overall pick for a lucrative, long-term extension. Horn has shown flashes of what he could be when he is healthy but is he really worth the annual salary of $19.7 million projected by Spotrac? Is it in Carolina's best interest to lock themselves to Horn for the next couple of years and make him one of the highest-paid corners in the league?

GM Dan Morgan has rewarded solid play so far in his tenure. His first inclination will be to extend Horn's contract, but the Panthers should be very open to trading him in the offseason. Targeting a younger, cheaper cornerback in the draft likely makes more sense for the Panthers.

3. OLB D.J. Wonnum

Another member of the Panthers' defense that has failed to live up to the expectations is D.J. Wonnum. The 27-year-old defender signed a two-year deal with the Panthers in the 2024 offseason after having his second 8-sack season in four years in Minnesota.

Wonnum's struggles, however, are far more forgivable than some of his teammates. It was a challenging season for Wonnum, who went through a complicated return from the quadriceps injury he suffered last season. After suffering a setback, Wonnum had to get multiple surgeries in the offseason, contracting MRSA and blood clots in the process.

He, fortunately, got healthy and made his Panthers debut on November 10 against the Giants. He has been gradually increasing his workload and production, recording four sacks, one forced fumble, four tackles for loss, and six QB hits in seven games. It was still a step back from his 2023 season, per PFF, falling from a 62.3 defensive grade to 56.4.

Wonnum has one more year left on his deal. The Panthers could save $7.5 million and only have $900k as a dead cap on their books if they designate him a post-June 1 cut.

The Panthers would ideally want to retain a competent veteran but considering the injury concerns and the financial savings it would bring to cut Wonnum, that is certainly something worth considering in the offseason.