The Carolina Panthers are looking to turn things around in 2024. A disastrous 2023 season led to many asking questions on where this team is going. They have no shortage of top picks on the roster. So far, it hasn’t helped, leading many to wonder what the Panthers will do with those players. One of those top picks, cornerback Jaycee Horn, will be around for a little longer as the team picks up his fifth-year option.
Carolina Panthers Pick-Up Option On Jaycee Horn
Jaycee Horn has struggled with injuries throughout his career. In the last three seasons, he has only played 22 of 51 games and only three during his rookie season. However, the Carolina Panthers still believe he can be a lockdown corner in the NFL. 2024 NFL Draft pick Xavier Legette was a teammate of Horn at South Carolina and knows what he brings to the table.
“Jaycee is part of the reason I became a good player,” Legette said. “He’s very patient at the line. You can’t just do anything on Jaycee, man. Jaycee, like I said, he is a good player and he made me better.”
This is basically a one-year prove-it deal for Jaycee Horn. If he cannot stay healthy again, the team can move on without any real cost besides the pick they used. If he does become a dominant corner, the Carolina Panthers have a potential defensive cornerstone for years to come.
Roster Improving Rapidly
The Carolina Panthers have been active this offseason. They desperately needed to improve the roster, and they have done just that. Diontae Johnson was brought in from the Steelers and immediately became their WR1. Legette adds more talent to the room, and veteran Adam Thielen can become a veteran presence rather than a focal point of the offense.
They aren’t void of talent on defense, either. While Brian Burns is gone, Derrick Brown was recently extended and is a tackling machine on the defensive line. If Jaycee Horn can lock down the best receiver on the opposing team, this defense may surprise some people in 2024.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, the success of the Carolina Panthers comes down to the play of Bryce Young. The team is giving him every opportunity to succeed. If he struggles, this team is going nowhere. Last year was a cornucopia of problems that led to a rough season. The hope is that with more stability, this team can find more success in 2024.
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Matt Brown has been following sports since he was a kid. It does not matter what sport he is talking about; he tends to be an expert in it. When he is not glued to following sports, he is a banker in Wisconsin and hosts two podcasts, Beers and Ears & Discontinued on Display.
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