Jaycee Horn is at her best this season. The Carolina Panthers cornerback’s exceptional performance should have convinced the powers that be that he was worthy of a long-term financial commitment. However, there are questions that concern others in the room.

Horn’s status can’t be questioned after finally proving his ability to stay healthy. Mike Jackson Sr. was acquired from the Seattle Seahawks in a trade just before the season and could receive another contract if he maintains his current level of performance in Carolina’s remaining six games.

Dane Jackson hasn’t been consistent enough since returning to the lineup. Rookie Chau Smith-Wade remains an unknown quantity. Caleb Farley is a work in progress, but he’s probably worth keeping around for another offseason.

Some tough decisions await Dan Morgan this offseason. But given the current situation, it wouldn’t be surprising to find a long-term partner for Horn in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Sayre Bedinger from NFL Spin Zone also shared this opinion. He predicted the Panthers would use the No. 5 overall pick they currently have on Michigan cornerback Will Johnson — who the author believes has similar potential to Alabama transfer Patrick Surtain II.

“If Bryce Young continues to play well for the Panthers, they could buy themselves another year without having to get on the QB carousel. In fact, I would be so bold as to say that the Panthers should plan on working with Bryce Young again next year.” This roster needs to be revamped in many ways, including the second tier of Pat Surtain II with what we’ve had over the past three years “We’ve seen at Michigan that the Panthers are getting one of the best playmakers in their class and maybe the guy in this class with probably the highest overall rating.”

– Sayre Bedinger, NFL Spin Zone

It’s hard to say which path the Panthers will take at this point. Morgan is well equipped with draft picks and knows how to properly evaluate players. A lot will also depend on which players are retained and what acquisitions Carolina makes when free agency hits.

Nobody should complain too much if Johnson is the choice. There’s obviously a need to strengthen the defensive line, the edge rushing positions and the wide receiver spot, but having two legitimate shutdown cornerbacks provides a tremendous foundation to build on.

Johnson has the size and length to become the newest college cornerback to immediately blossom at the next level. He mirrors the wide receiver exceptionally well and has excellent reactions at the top of route stems. There’s also a lot to appreciate about his versatility, excelling in the press, in the zone or out of coverage with minimal effort.

Some improvements are needed from a tackling technique standpoint, but this is easily remedied. The Panthers’ secondary would improve from the moment Johnson took the field. Others are being considered, but the corner could end up at the top of Carolina’s list.

Horn is a star. If Johnson also meets expectations, the Panthers would immediately have one of the best cornerback duos in the league.

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