4. Jaycee Horn, CB
There’s no doubt that Horn has the talent and athleticism to live up to his draft spot (8th overall in 2021 out of South Carolina), but he’s struggled to stay on the field.
He played in just three games as a rookie (foot fracture), 13 games in 2022 (rib injury) and six games last season (hamstring injury).
In those 22 games played, he’s recorded 85 tackles, 4 INTs and 13 pass breakups as a lockdown corner.
Jaycee Horn has played in 22 of 51 games. He said he focused on more weight training this offseason to build his body back up. Adds that what he’s done in the past obviously didn’t work.#KeepPounding@1340AMFOXSports pic.twitter.com/XoIYTczEMF
— Sheena Quick (@Sheena_Marie3) May 20, 2024
If he can’t stay on the field, however, it will be difficult for the Panthers to justify extending him.
Horn is set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2026, so he still has some time to prove he can stay healthy, but it’s starting to run out.
If he can avoid injury, he should be one of the key defensive pieces for Carolina as it navigates its rebuild.