The Panthers may have wanted to have gotten the opportunity to take a cornerstone left tackle.
They took somebody they believe is a cornerstone cornerback all things considered, leaving a quarterback on the load up simultaneously.
With the eighth pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Panthers selected South Carolina cornerback Jaycee Horn.
The 6-foot-1, 205-pound Horn is the sort of actual player they’re searching for at the position, a aggressive press corner who will actually want to contend in the NFC South.
Panthers head coach Matt Rhule discussed Horn’s ability to coordinate against the enormous receivers of the division, and to do so quickly, ready to begin inverse Donte Jackson from the very first moment.
“I just think with the big receivers we have to face, week in and week out, you have Mike Evans, you have Chris Godwin, you have Michael Thomas, you have Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley, now Kyle Pitts. It’s going to take a lot of guys who can cover, and also can cover really big men.
“You know how we feel about Donte, we’re excited about the guys we brought in last year, but there’s a size match up in the NFC South that matters. And he checks that box for us.”
Horn likewise carries a touch of strut to the optional they needed.
“We loved the competitive makeup, the cover ability, and just the person,” general manager Scott Fitterer said. “He brings a lot of energy. I think he’s a really good fit for this team and we’re excited to get him.”
The Panthers just missed on an opportunity to draft left tackle Penei Sewell, who ventured out in front of them to Detroit.
In any case, with Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields still on the board, the telephones rang, however none of the offers influenced them from the opportunity to add a cornerback of Horn’s capacity.
“We fielded calls, but there wasn’t anything that matched moving away from Jaycee,” Fitterer said.