4 Carolina Panthers rookies who will help Sam Darnold shine in 2021

Jaycee Horn – Carolina Panthers CB

This might seem like a strange player for this sort of list. But Jaycee Horn is someone that could give Sam Darnold’s chances a significant shot in the arm if he hits the ground running.

The former South Carolina stud was selected No. 8 overall by the Carolina Panthers, which came as a surprise to some considering Justin Fields was still on the board. However, as Matt Rhule stated following the pick, they didn’t acquire Darnold from the New York Jets for him to not get a real opportunity, and getting a potentially elite cornerback with shutdown potential was also high on their list of priorities.

One area the Panthers really struggled in 2020 was getting off the field on third down. The introduction of Horn and free-agent signing A.J. Bouye should provide some added intensity – especially in press coverage – so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see a huge shift in fortunes next time around.

Less third-down conversions for the opposition means not only fewer points on the board, but it would also give Darnold more in the way of snaps to utilize some outstanding weapons in the passing game.

This might not have been the selection some sections of Carolina’s fanbase wanted. But there is little doubt that Horn could be a potential star in no time at all with a smooth adjustment to the professional ranks.