C.J. Henderson – Carolina Panthers CB
The Carolina Panthers made the tough decision to let All-Pro cornerback Stephon Gilmore leave in free agency. However, there is enough in the way of quality young talent for the team to cope without the former NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2022 and beyond.
One player that has a lot on the line next season is C.J. Henderson. The Panthers traded for the 2020 first-round selection from the Jacksonville Jaguars last year and after an indifferent first campaign with the team, more will be expected next time around.
Henderson has all the athletic gifts imaginable. But his concentration on the field lets him down and there have also been some questions about the player’s desire to truly make the most out of his professional career.
Nothing like this has come up in Carolina.
Not yet, anyway.
But the Panthers must give Henderson all he can handle throughout OTAs and training camp. And the presence of new defensive backs coach Steve Wilks could make all the difference to the Florida product’s development.
Henderson must step up and start making more out of his exceptional athletic attributes. If he cannot manage to do this, then this starting place would be under threat with Keith Taylor Jr. also expected to make improvements.