With the eighth pick in the 2021 NFL draft, the Carolina Panthers select Jaycee Horn, cornerback, South Carolina.
Analysis: Horn has the experience and the mental makeup to be a top-flight press coverage cornerback in the NFL. If that sounds like something your defense can use, you might want to grab him early because he will not be there next time you are on the clock. His versatility is a huge asset for his next team.
Grade: B. The Panthers didn’t play much man coverage last season, and when they did, they weren’t very good at it — they allowed five touchdowns and had no picks in man. Both in man and zone coverage, Horn projects well as an uber-aggressive player who can make Carolina’s secondary better right away. It’s a bit of a surprise to see Hor go before Patrick Surtain II, but it’s not crazy to view Horn as an eighth-overall talent.