4 overhyped Carolina Panthers heading into 2020

Carolina Panthers Player No. 4: Donte Jackson (CB)

The pressure is on Donte Jackson in no uncertain terms next season. The cornerback is now the Panthers’ No. 1 option following the departure of James Bradberry. And this is a challenge he is sure to relish.

Jackson is an elite athlete with speed to burn. But coping with the pressure of coming up against the NFL’s best wide receivers on almost every down is something that does pose a concern.

More from Carolina Panthers News

• Ranking the top-five QB prospects the Panthers could draft in 2023
• 4 remaining Carolina Panthers cap crunches after Damien Wilson release
• Could Duce Staley help Carolina Panthers land Jamaal Williams in 2023?
• 4 Panthers rumors to emerge from 2023 NFL Scouting Combine
• 7 free-agent wide receivers the Carolina Panthers could sign in 2023

In Carolina’s division alone, Jackson will be forced to contend with Julio Jones, Michael Thomas, Mike Evans, and Chris Godwin. And there are plenty of others on the schedule who represents a stiff test.

The Panthers tried to take some of the pressure off fourth-round pick Troy Pride Jr. by picking up Eli Apple on a short-term deal. But this doesn’t impact the mammoth responsibility on Jackson’s shoulders whatsoever.

Those expecting the player to immediately become a potential shutdown presence on the outside will be out of luck. There are going to be growing pains, especially given the overall questions surrounding the secondary. So a more realistic aspiration for Jackson will be to hold his own against the top wideouts and build on this experience in 2021.

Jackson has an outstanding skill set to call upon. But there is little disputing the fact that he is in for a baptism of fire as Carolina’s primary cornerback option.