After battling injuries through his first three seasons, Carolina Panthers cornerback Jaycee Horn finally stayed healthy in 2024. Starting and appearing in 15 games, the former first-round pick was one of the few bright spots on Carolina’s defense, earning a Pro Bowl selection while finishing the season with one interception, 13 passes defended, two sacks, 68 tackles, five tackles-for-loss, and two quarterback hits. Now entering the final year of his rookie season, the team is reportedly trying to extend their homegrown talent as a foundational part of their defense.
The Panthers have yet to extend Jaycee Horn, but the cornerback is aware that talks are underway. During a recent appearance on The Jim Rome Show, the cornerback sounded eager about the idea of re-signing and believes the team is going in the right direction.
“I’m a guy that’s kinda building on loyalty,” Horn said. “I wanna be where I was drafted. I seen those struggling days as a Panther when I first came in, even still going through a little bit of them now. And I know the team is going in the right direction, the organization’s going in the right direction and Charlotte’s a cool spot. So I’d definitely love to be there and be a part of the change and see the glory days.”
“I’m a guy that’s building on loyalty. I wanna be where I was drafted.”@jayceehorn_10 on his future in Carolina pic.twitter.com/Wt08m9WI2T
— Jim Rome (@jimrome) January 16, 2025
Jaycee Horn wants to stay with the Panthers, and Carolina wants to keep Horn. Chances are, the team will come to terms on a new deal, but we’ve seen talks fall flat in the past. After all, there’s a reason Brian Burns is in New York right now. If the two sides can’t come together on a fair deal, Carolina could trade him and maximize their return. Seeing as he only has one year left on his deal, contenders like the Baltimore Ravens and Minnesota Vikings should be interested in his services.
Jaycee Horn Wants to Stay With Panthers, Trade Could Happen Anyways
The Baltimore Ravens figured out their defense in the second half of the season, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t upgrade the secondary during the offseason. First-round pick Nate Wiggins has played well down the stretch, but Marlon Humphrey isn’t getting any younger and the rest of the depth chart needs some work. Seeing as they share a division with Joe Burrow and a conference with Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes, Baltimore needs as many reliable defensive backs as they can find.
If the Panthers trade him, Jaycee Horn could form the NFL’s most fearsome secondary with the Ravens. In the short term, teams will not be able to throw the ball on a defensive backfield comprised of Horn, Wiggins, and Humphrey. Even as Humphrey starts slowing down, Horn and Wiggins can still be a lockdown duo for at least the next five years.
More Help In Minnesota
While the quarterback dilemma will be the biggest issue in Minnesota, the Vikings must do something about their cornerback situation. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores is one of the best minds in football, and if he returns for another season, he’ll need high-level cornerbacks to execute his scheme. Flores loves to blitz, and this defensive philosophy only works if the defensive backs can hold their own in man coverage.
Byron Murphy, Stephon Gilmore, and Shaquill Griffin are all impending free agents, which means this secondary could look dramatically different in 2025. The Vikings will probably need to bring in at least one or two outside bodies, and Jaycee Horn could be an ideal fit for this aggressive defense.
Main Photo: Bob Donnan – USA Today Sports
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