C.J. Henderson – Carolina Panthers CB
Trading for C.J. Henderson was a bold move by the Carolina Panthers, giving up a third-round pick and tight end Dan Arnold to the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for the cornerback and a fifth-rounder. This wasn’t seen as a win-now move considering his age and others on the roster, although if the Florida product reaches his potential then it’s going to bring a significant amount of success in the long run.
Henderson has been used sparingly by the Panthers since his arrival. A shoulder problem hasn’t aided his cause, but we’ve started to see some real promise from the former first-round pick over the last few weeks in limited action.
Carolina will no longer have Donte Jackson – perhaps for good – after the starting option was put on season-ending injured/reserve. This opens a window for Henderson to not only earn more playing time over the next five games but also become an important part of the team’s plans in 2022.
Things haven’t gone according to plan for Henderson since arriving in the league. Jacksonville giving up on a top-10 selection after a little more than one season is proof of that.
However, this is a tremendous spot for him to be and if the Panthers can reignite Henderson’s passion for the game of football, then it might make all the difference.