7 key position battles to watch at Panthers training camp in 2021

Carolina Panthers CB1

• Donte Jackson vs. Jaycee Horn

There’s a new alpha in town for the Carolina Panthers. Jaycee Horn was selected No. 8 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft and his presence on the roster is set to be a telling boost for the secondary providing he’s ready to take on some big responsibilities from the outset.

Horn is more than capable of this. He is fast, physical, thrives in press coverage, and has the sort of mentality that is hard not to love.

The South Carolina product could even take over the No. 1 spot on the depth chart with a strong showing at training camp and the preseason. Donte Jackson currently holds that title and won’t be giving it up without a fight.

This is a win-win for the Panthers. Horn and Jackson’s healthy competition for the top spot should bring out the best in them, which could result in some outstanding production when it’s time to get down to business.

Jackson heading into a contract year and looking for a big payday is another fascinating element to all this. He’ll need to stay healthy and show the sort of form we witnessed down the stretch in 2020. If he can do this, then Carolina should reward him accordingly.

It would be a real disappointment if the cornerbacks didn’t produce the goods in 2021. However, judging by what Jackson and Horn bring to the table, failure is not an option for either.