The Carolina Panthers turned heads to start free agency by signing Jaycee Horn to a massive four-year extension that made him the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL. It was a market resetting deal, and now Horn will have to earn his salary.
This contract does represent a significant investment in a secondary that ranked 29th in opponent yards per pass play (7.2). Horn is a solid player, though he can't do everything himself and will need help from other moves.
However, Horn will be the presumed leader of the defense and delivered a simple four-word message to his teammates after signing the deal.
Jaycee Horn: "It's time to win."
— Joe Person (@josephperson) March 14, 2025
Says Dan Morgan had told him they were going to bring in a bunch of defensive additions this offseason. Obviously, followed through with it.
Panthers' Jaycee Horn Delivers Message to Teammates After Contract Extension
Speaking to the media following the contract, Horn said, "It's time to win." He noted that general manager Dan Morgan had previously told him that Carolina was going to bring in defensive additions this offseason.
By signing big deals with guys like former Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton, the Panthers have done exactly that. Morgan and head coach Dave Canales know that building up the defense is a requirement if this organization is going to compete for a playoff spot soon. They invested in the offense over the last couple of years, so it was time to do the same on the other side of the ball.
For Horn, who was taken by Carolina in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, that means taking a leap to become one of the best corners in the league. He ranked 86th out of 223 qualified corners at Pro Football Focus, suggesting there's a lot of room for growth for the 25-year-old defender.
That said, 2024 was the finest year of his career, resulting in a Pro Bowl nomination. He's struggled with injuries during his short career, being limited to three games in 2021 and just six in 2023. Now that he's received his big payday, Horn has to stay on the field to justify the expense.
At the least, the Panthers deserve credit for trying to turn things around, and hopefully, Horn is right that it's finally time to win.