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Panthers Stud Takes Strong Stance on Future in Carolina

Pro Bowl Panthers CB Jaycee Horn made a bold declaration about his future in Carolina.

By Joe Summers

Dec 22, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers cornerback Jaycee Horn (8) questions a call by the official during the second half against the Arizona Cardinals at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
Dec 22, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers cornerback Jaycee Horn (8) questions a call by the official during the second half against the Arizona Cardinals at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images / Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
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The Carolina Panthers have a busy offseason ahead with a major need to improve a defense that ranked dead last in opponent yards per play (6.0). Pro Bowl CB Jaycee Horn was one of the team's lone bright spots in a disappointing campaign, but his recent comments indicate that he intends to stay in Carolina for as long as the organization will have him.

Horn enjoyed the finest year of his career in 2024. While the club picked up his team option for 2025, he's a strong candidate to receive a contract extension in the coming months. Based on Horn's new declaration, he wants to be a Panther for life.

Originally a first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Horn is the type of player Carolina can confidently build the secondary around.

Panthers CB Jaycee Horn Declares He Wants to Stay in Carolina

"I'm a guy that's building on loyalty," Horn told Jim Rome during an interview. "I wanna be where I was drafted."

He mentioned that he has seen the struggles in Carolina and wants to be part of the change to build a winner. Horn noted that the organization is moving in the right direction and based on the improved play down the stretch, it's hard to argue with his conclusion.

This was easily the most impressive campaign that Horn has had in the NFL. He notched 68 tackles, 13 deflected passes, five tackles for loss, two sacks, and an interception while allowing a 53.2% completion percentage and 92.7 passer rating when targeted in coverage.

That passer rating was the highest he'd allowed, but some of that can at least partially be attributed to the poor players around him. Horn is a good starter, grading as the 86th-best corner out of 223 qualified players at Pro Football Focus. If he had a bit more help, perhaps we could be talking about an All-Pro in 2025.

Either way, it's a blessing to see someone want to stay with the Panthers. This team has been a turnstile for several years but if Horn stays around, head coach Dave Canales at least has a foundation around which to build the rest of the defense.

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