4 Carolina Panthers players trending towards draft bust status

C.J. Henderson – Carolina Panthers CB

• Round No. 1 (No. 9 overall) – 2020 NFL Draft

There were more than a few eyebrows raised when the Carolina Panthers decided to trade a third-round pick and Dan Arnold to the Jacksonville Jaguars for C.J. Henderson and a fifth-rounder. The cornerback hadn’t exactly shown much to justify his high-end draft selection in 2020, but players with this sort of physical talent normally get another chance somewhere and this proved to be the case for the Florida product.

General manager Scott Fitterer stated this trade was with the long-term in mind. Henderson perhaps had too much pressure on his shoulders being the No. 9 overall selection, but the Panthers were reportedly high on him before the draft and still felt this would be a solid environment for the corner to thrive.

Henderson was brought along gradually last season. He did flash promise on occasions, but some inconsistencies in coverage reared their ugly head once again and this is an offseason of immense importance for a player that was projected to have shutdown capabilities during his draft evaluation process.

After just two seasons, it’s a little too early to be giving up on Henderson just yet. However, if the player wants to realize his potential, then he must enter the preparation period in a positive mindset and work exceptionally hard on his craft for good measure.

The Panthers might need more from Henderson next season if either Stephon Gilmore and Donte Jackson don’t come back. But this is all about how much the player wants to be a prolific pro because the talent is obviously there.