Valuable Panthers Defender Dismisses Contract Talks for Unique Reason
By Jovan Alford
The Carolina Panthers saw their defense undergo a massive overhaul in the offseason, as they traded pass rusher Brian Burns and cornerback Donte Jackson and saw vets Frankie Luvu and Jeremy Chinn leave in free agency.
There will be a lot of new faces on the Panthers’ defense, but also some familiar ones, such as Jaycee Horn. Carolina is looking for the former first-round pick to stay healthy and be their No. 1 cornerback.
If Horn can do that and produce at a high level this season, a contract extension is likely in his future. But the young cornerback isn’t thinking about that and told reporters at training camp on Wednesday that his main focus is showing the coaches and front office he can be available, per Joe Person of The Athletic.
Asked about possible contract extension, Jaycee Horn said his main focus is first showing coaches and front office that he’s going to be available.
— Joe Person (@josephperson) July 24, 2024
The 6-foot-1 cornerback only played in six games last season after suffering a hamstring injury in Week 1 that placed him on injured reserve and sidelined Horn until Week 13. The former No. 8 overall pick had 27 combined tackles, five pass deflections, and a tackle for loss in a small sample size.
Additionally, Horn produced a 58.1 completion percentage allowed on targets and only gave up one receiving touchdown. The only time Horn played double-digit games was in 2022 (13). He posted 53 combined tackles, seven pass deflections, three interceptions, two tackles for loss, and a quarterback hit.
Horn also showed that he could hold up in coverage with a 55 completion percentage allowed on targets and only giving up one touchdown. With the Panthers not having a solidified CB2, it will be on Horn’s shoulders to lead the secondary.
If the former South Carolina star can have a season similar to 2022, Horn will be in the Queen City for the foreseeable future.
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