Carolina Panthers CB Jaycee Horn has earned the largest contract in NFL History for the Cornerback position, netting him a four-year, $100 million contract extension, something that wasn’t always in the cards. Jaycee put together a great campaign in 2024, appearing in a career-high games, posting bests in combined tackles (68), tackles for a loss (5), sacks (2), and passes defended (13), earning him his first Pro Bowl selection. While he has had an NFL start that might sound like a nightmare to most, this is the final hump that Jaycee needed to clear, even passing DPOY CB Patrick Surtain, a fellow draft class member who ended up with the Denver Broncos – yet Jaycee how has a contract even surpassing that.
Jaycee in High School
Jaycee attended the Greater Atlanta Christian School in Norcross Georgia where he was able to excel at both track and football, playing wide receiver, and even defensive back, before finally becoming the cornerback he is today. His freakish athleticism, versatility, and age made him a prime candidate for playoff football, leading his team to a Georgia Class AA State championship game. This is the game where NFL scouts began to take notice of the ball hawk Jaycee was developing into. Years later, he would enter the college portal as a 5 star recruit, and one of the top-rated cornerback prospects in the country.
Jayce would enter the college fray with many suitors, with offers from Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Coastal Carolina, Duke, and Georgia, before deciding on the University of South Carolina Gamecocks. He was a Tennessee commit for a bit, as per 24/7 Sports at the time.
Jaycee taking his talents to South Carolina in 2018 meant the Gamecocks had a legit defense, anchored by a future teammate in DL D.J. Wonnum, Dallas Cowboys RB Rico Dowdle, recently traded Commander WR Deebo Samuel, and Baltimore Ravens Ty’Son Williams.
Horn be invited to the NFL Combine in 2021, where he would put up an NFL Next Gen Stats Athleticism Score of 95, 3rd in the 2021 CB class, while also being rated an 83 in production making him the 4th rated CB at this. The Junior would be measured as a 6’1″, 205lb, 33″ arm length, and 9 1/8″ hand size. A personnel executive for an NFL team said of Horn, “There just aren’t many corners in the league who have his traits and his man-cover talent. I think he’s got a chance to be special.”
Horn at the 2021 NFL Draft
With the 8th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Carolina Panthers selected Jaycee Horn from the University of South Carolina, just before a class rival, CB from Alabama Patrick Surtain II. NFL comparisons had Jaycee compared to Jimmy Smith, the CB from Baltimore drafted in the 2011 NFL Draft with the 27th pick. Horn would finally begin to realize his dream of making the NFL, suiting up for the Carolina Panthers in the 2021 NFL season.
Horn begins his campaign
Jaycee would start 2021 against the New York Jets in a win, 19-14, where he was able to take 98.4% of the defensive snaps, logging 3 combined tackles, and 2 solo. Following up that game, the NFC South Rival New Orleans Saints hand Jaycee Horn another win after he secures an interception, leading to a 26-7 rout. Moving to week three against the Houston Texans where his Panthers would yet again win 24-9, Jaycee had his first of a few major setbacks. During the game, he experienced a Pedal Foot Fracture, Grade 1, so on Sept 23, 2021, Jaycee Horn was shut down for the year and placed on season-ending IR.
Coming back in 2022, the hype was real as a now healthy Jaycee Horn can bring his brand of physical man-coverage play can be on full effect. Jaycee would go on to play 13 games, and have 3 interceptions, 37 solo tackles, 16 assisted, and 2 tackles for loss. His reduction in games played his year happened in week 5 against the Los Angeles Rams where Jaycee would experience a Chest Rib Sprani/Pull that caused him to miss 2 games.
2023 was the year, back-to-back seasons of injuries have removed Jaycee from being able to compete at the highest levels of the NFL in terms of accolades, recognition, and the eventual payday. While working out on his own, he suffered yet another Pedal Ankle Sprain, this time a Grade 2, causing him to sit out OTAs and minicamps as well. In week 1, he also suffered a Grade 2 Thigh Hamstring Strain causing him to miss 10 games before returning in week 13. This was a tough time for the CB as not only the fanbase, but the league was seeing fellow draftee Patrick Surtain become a dominant force as a DB in Denver. Horn would finish with 6 games played, and only 27 combined tackles.
Jaycee, “It’s time to ball”
2024, a now 25-year-old Jaycee Horn is preparing to go into a contract year, as Patrick Surtain, his draft classmate had finally been paid a record 4-year, 96 million dollar deal. Horn would put together his most complete season yet, 15 games played, 13 passes defended, 1 interception, 68 combined tackles, and finally – Jaycee Horn was given the Pro Bowl nod he earned.
2025 Jaycee Horn
As Jaycee prepares to lead this defense with DL Derrick Brown, the Carolina Panthers adding S Tre’Von Moehrig, CB Mike Jackson, EDGE Patrick Jones II, NT Bobby Brown III, and DT Tershawn Wharton. The defense is coming off of the NFL’s worst defense, and truly, this is the stone needed to begin to move the conversation toward this defense being ranked top 10. Maybe that year is 2025, but if it isn’t, I’m just glad we can say Jaycee Horn is still a Carolina Panther.