Panthers CB Jaycee Horn named 2nd-year breakout candidate

Carolina Panthers rookie cornerback Jaycee Horn was well on his way to becoming a rising star in 2021 . . . until disaster struck.

During the team’s Week 3 win over the Houston Texans last season, the then-21-year-old fractured three bones in his right foot—a particularly devastating injury that wound up ending his first NFL season. But, it’s on to the next one.

With Horn continuing to work his way back, he’ll certainly be in a prime position to jump on that potential rise again. In fact, he may be one of the top second-year studs to keep on an eye according to NFL.com analyst Bucky Brooks.

“As the eighth overall pick in the 2021 draft, Horn was expected to thrive as a shutdown corner on the island,” writes Brooks, who ranked Horn amongst his top 10 second-year breakout candidates. “The ultra-athletic defender possesses all of the tools to stymie wideouts on the perimeter, but he failed to fully display his talent due to a foot injury that ended his rookie campaign after just three starts. With Horn fully recovered from the injury, the football world will finally get a chance to see the long, rangy corner blanket WR1s in a pivotal year for Matt Rhule and the Panthers.”

Horn, even in his limited time on the field, showed off those premium tools. According to Pro Football Focus, the 6-foot-1, 205-pound corner was thrown at only five times over three games—which resulted in an interception and just one catch for a 20-yard touchdown. (And that reception, by the way, was more of a great play from New York Jets wideout Corey Davis rather than a bad one from Horn.)

Hopefully, Horn will get to show off more of those skills and prove the Panthers made a worthwhile investment with that eighth overall selection.

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