The Carolina Panthers may have one of the better starting cornerback duos in the NFL. However, this group needs someone else to emerge this season if they want to defend their NFC South title.
Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson Sr. give Carolina plenty of confidence on the outside. Behind them, the Panthers are counting on three young corners who are still trying to establish exactly where they fit.
Corey Thornton, Chau Smith-Wade and fourth-round rookie Will Lee III all have legitimate reasons to believe they can become that player.
Carolina Panthers must decide which young cornerback can take the next step
And with the preseason winding down, somebody needs to separate himself in the coming days before general manager Dan Morgan and head coach Dave Canales make some big decisions.
The Panthers entered training camp with a pretty clear starting duo, but the competition behind Horn and Jackson has been much less settled.
Carolina's first preseason depth chart listed Smith-Wade and Thornton behind the starters, with both players also working at nickel. The team has continued to move its corners around throughout camp.
Thornton might arguably have the strongest case based on what Carolina saw from him last season. He also had a strong spring. He intercepted quarterback Bryce Young during minicamp, and Dave Canales praised the work he had put in while recovering from his injury.
"All the work that he's put in in his first year is paying off for him," Canales said, adding that Thornton has gained experience at outside corner, nickel and safety.
That versatility could matter a lot. But the regression Thornton has displayed throughout Carolina's preseason slate won't be going unnoticed.
Carolina Panthers don't need another star at corner, but they need dependability
Smith-Wade has a similar argument. He has played primarily in the slot but has also moved outside and even worked at safety this offseason. Canales has described him as a player the Panthers trust because of his understanding of the defense and ability to play multiple positions.
The 2024 fifth-round pick out of Washington State also gave himself a nice boost during the preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, coming up with an interception and looking more assured in coverage.
Then there's Lee, who’s probably the most intriguing wild card of the group. The Panthers viewed the rookie’s versatility as one of the reasons he could be useful. And the flashes this summer suggest there could be a role for him to play once the game slows down for the Texas A&M product.
The Panthers don't necessarily need one of these three to become a star. They need one to become dependable enough that the defense doesn't fall apart if Horn or Jackson misses time.
Thornton has already shown the Panthers that he can contribute. Smith-Wade has experience and just made one of the biggest defensive plays of the preseason. Lee has the upside of a first-year player who has already earned first-team opportunities, boosting his development.
Now the only question that remains is who defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero will trust when the regular season begins.
Time will tell on that one.
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