4 key early matchups for Panthers CB Jaycee Horn in 2021
By Dean Jones
Carolina Panthers vs. New Orleans Saints
- Potential matchup – Michael Thomas
If Jaycee Horn is looking for competition, then he is sure to find it against the New Orleans Saints in Week 2. Despite the retirement of Drew Brees bringing Sean Payton’s men into the unknown with Jameis Winston, they still have one of the best wide receivers in the business in Michael Thomas that needs to be accounted for.
Thomas is an elite route-runner with the ball skills to match. He may have suffered his fair share of injury problems in 2020, but that doesn’t detract from what a game-changer he is if afforded enough space.
Whether Thomas gets the same amount of production with Winston under center remains to be seen., The former No. 1 overall selection was erratic during his last season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and resulted in the team going in a different direction. But taking a back seat to Brees was probably the best thing for his career at the time and might do him some good in the long run.
The Saints underwent some major changes this offseason thanks in no small part to their salary-cap predicament. This uncertainty surrounding substantial player turnover might be something the Carolina Panthers can take advantage of and they will need Horn firing on all cylinders when he goes up against a supreme playmaker such as Thomas.
If Horn can hold his own in the face of an All-Pro in only his second game, then the confidence he can generate is substantial and something that will make the entire NFL sit up and take notice.