3 reasons why Jaycee Horn was the right call by the Carolina Panthers

The Carolina Panthers selected cornerback Jaycee Horn from South Carolina with the No. 8 overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft, which was the right call.

The Jaycee Horn pick received mixed emotions from Carolina Panthers fans on social media. But that’s to be expected with any selection during the NFL Draft.

The Panthers didn’t trade back or take a quarterback like they were rumored to. Instead, those in power decided to select the best player on their board in a position of real need.

Here are three reasons Horn was the right pick.

Reason No. 1

Jaycee Horn is a potential lockdown CB1

While Jaycee Horn may not have been the flashiest pick for the Panthers, he addresses a glaring hole at the cornerback position. Outside of Donte Jackson, Carolina didn’t have a reliable corner in 2020.

It’s also been years since the Panthers have had what looks like a true boundary corner. In the NFC South that’s absolutely loaded with wide receiver talent, Horn helps keep up with their division rivals, one of which – the Atlanta Falcons – got their hands on stud tight end Kyle Pitts during the draft.

So just how gifted is the new Panthers cornerback?

First off, he has all the physical attributes you could ask for at 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds. Horn also has great arm length (33 inches) and possesses exceptional speed, posting a 4.39-second 40-yard dash time.

However, the most intriguing part about Horn is what he shows on tape.

Game in and game out, he showed the ability to cover the top receivers in the SEC. The only receiver to put up more than 50 yards in a game versus Horn in his whole college career was none other than 2020 Heisman trophy winner DeVonta Smith.

Horn also allowed only a 33 percent completion percentage last season, which was the lowest in the entire SEC.

While some may still be upset the Panthers didn’t take a different player or trade back, it is impossible to call Horn a bad pick.