5 Panthers players whose stock soared at 2022 mandatory minicamp

CJ Henderson – Carolina Panthers CB

After trading for cornerback CJ Henderson in 2021, the Carolina Panthers took their time with the former first-round selection. His time with the Jacksonville Jaguars was nothing short of a disaster, so building confidence up slowly was the key objective in pursuit of the player making more of an impact this time around.

It’s still early in the preparation period, but Henderson has left a positive impact regarding his overall performance and approach during drills. Something that’s drawn praise from respected figures such as Shaq Thompson and head coach Matt Rhule along the way.

Any momentum Henderson can build between now and Week 1 against the Cleveland Browns will be a bonus. The Panthers will likely roll with Jaycee Horn and Donte Jackson as their starting cornerback tandem, but the Florida product could become a dependable No. 3 option for defensive coordinator Phil Snow to utilize.

The presence of Steve Wilks cannot be overlooked when it comes to Henderson’s progress. His experience and reputation for nurturing talent is renowned, so if some of this rubs off on the former top-10 selection, the move to acquire him will be draft capital well spent.

Henderson now has familiarity with the scheme and his teammates, which should help. And this is a far more stable environment than the one he joined in Jacksonville providing everyone keeps pulling in the same direction.