The Carolina Panthers are making sure their top cornerback isn't going anywhere anytime soon.
The team has agreed to a massive four-year, $100 million extension with Pro Bowl CB Jaycee Horn, making him the highest-paid defensive back in NFL history at $25 million per year. The deal includes $70 million guaranteed, per Ian Rapoport on Monday.
Horn, 25, was set to play out his fifth-year option in 2024, which would have paid him $12.47 million. Instead, Carolina is locking him up for the long haul as part of its rebuilding efforts.
Despite early career injuries, Horn has proven to be one of the league's premier shutdown corners. In 2024, he played 15 games and put up an impressive stat line: 68 tackles, two sacks, 13 pass breakups, and an interception - all enough to earn him his first Pro Bowl nod.
The Panthers made it official on X, posting "Our lockdown corner is locked up" along with a highlight reel of their star.
Click it or ticket @jayceehorn_10 | #KeepPoundingpic.twitter.com/GEwqaapDBA
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) March 10, 2025
The Panthers drafted Horn eighth overall in 2021, but his first three seasons were plagued by injuries, limiting him to just 22 games out of a possible 51.
However, when healthy, he's shown why he was a top-10 pick, regularly locking down opposing receivers.
This extension signals Carolina's commitment to keeping its best talent in-house as it looks to build a contender.
Now, with their star corner locked up, the Panthers can focus on the next steps of their rebuild-with Horn leading the charge in the secondary.
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This story was originally published March 10, 2025 at 10:12 AM.