There’s been very little reason to pay attention to the Carolina Panthers in recent years — especially on defense, which is why Jaycee Horn becoming the highest-paid DB in NFL history is sure to turn heads before free agency opens.
The Panthers now have the highest-paid DB in NFL history
A veteran CB agrees to a HUGE deal in Carolina.
Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
James Dator has been covering a wide range of sports for SB Nation for over a decade, with a special focus on the NFL.
On Monday it was announced that Horn and the Panthers have reached a deal on a 4 year, $100M extension with $70M guaranteed. It sets a new market for cornerbacks under the ever-increasing salary cap, and is sure to be a temporary high water mark before Derek Stingley Jr. and Sauce Gardner sign new deals.
Horn, the No. 8 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, has been one of the Panthers most pivotal defensive figures. While he’s not a lockdown corner in the strictest sense of the word, he thrives as being a multi-faceted tool for defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero. Horn thrives at using his 6’1, 200-pound frame to play the joker as needed, either in a pass rushing role or in run support.
It’s here where Horn really shines. In 2024 Pro Football Focus graded him as the No. 8 pass-rushing cornerback in the NFL, 11th among corners in run-stopping, and he finished 3rd in the NFL for sacks among cornerbacks. This is the value he brings to the Panthers inside-out approach, which puts more emphasis on running the ball and stopping the run, rather than solely worrying about covering outside passes.
While the initial reaction might make this feel like an overpay, it’s really not. We’re simply seeing a new-normal being set in response to the salary cap increasing. Horn’s contract will get dwarfed soon, and could be surpassed as soon as this free agency period with the likes of Jevon Holland, D.J. Reed, and Carlton Davis all being on the open market.
The Carolina Panthers said they were being very selective at identifying players who were critical to their football vision, and getting deals done. So far the team has re-signed three key players in Horn, center Austin Corbett, and tight end Tommy Tremble. Now with more money to spend the front office will try to address the biggest needs on both sides of the ball.
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