5 Panthers players who’ll benefit from a normal offseason
By Dean Jones
Jaycee Horn – Carolina Panthers CB
The Carolina Panthers are expecting big things from Jaycee Horn right from the word go. That is to be expected of someone who was taken No. 8 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, but rookie cornerbacks do tend to go through more growing pains than most once they come from college into the pros.
Horn seems to have everything going for him and might be the true shutdown cornerback Carolina has been looking for when it’s all said and done.
However, getting some meaningful reps during the preseason is going to tell us plenty about what we can expect from the former South Carolina star in Week 1 and beyond.
The son of ex-Pro Bowl wideout Joe Horn certainly looked the part during rookie minicamp and the first portion of OTAs, which is a solid foundation from which to build.
What comes next at training camp and warm-up games will be equally as important and there will be plenty watching his production closely due to the complications that are normally associated with first-year corners.
Horn has all the length, physicality, and athleticism to ensure his transition is a smooth one. Another thing that stands out is the player’s strong mentality, which stems from being around the NFL for most of his life.
Hopes are extremely high for Horn to make his presence felt. Having preseason games to further adjust is going to make a massive difference.