Panthers Rookie is Turning Heads in Training Camp, but What Role Will He Play in 2025?
Every single offseason, stories emerge about rookies and what they will add to their new team. Much of this news is exaggerated, and sometimes even false, but with what the Carolina Panthers have seen from their sixth-round selection, Jimmy Horn Jr., it begs the question of where he will fit into an extremely crowded receiver room. The team added Tetairoa McMillan in the first round of this year’s draft, as well as signing Hunter Renfrow, who has turned heads himself early on in practice, making Horn Jr.’s journey to a starting role extremely difficult and filled with legit competition. Reports from Charlotte, North Carolina, indicate that the former Colorado star is a sure bet to make the 53-man roster, but where he will play and when he will play remain up in the air. Here is every possibility for Horn Jr., the son of NFL legend Jimmy Horn Sr., and where he might fit in on this Carolina squad.
In college, Horn Jr.'s elite breakaway speed and phenomenal footwork jumped off the screen. Yet, he fell to the sixth round, where the Panthers scooped him up. His elusiveness and short-area quickness are not those of a day three selection, but drops and inconsistent separation skills plummeted his draft stock. Whether these issues were addressed over the summer remains to be seen, but what Horn Jr. has accomplished in camp thus far begs the question of how often he will see the field in his rookie campaign.
Panthers head coach Dave Canales has said numerous times that Horn Jr.’s speed just cannot be taught, and his release off the line is something he has never seen before, but he has yet to mention where Horn Jr. will be on the opening day depth chart. The ex-Colorado and USF standout provides an elusive, big-play ability guy on special teams, whether that is as a returner or gunner, and he seems willing to play that role, which is important because rookies often want to see the field from day one. Horn Jr. would also give Bryce Young a great deep threat, a player who can stretch the defense and beat corners up top. However, with how many starting-caliber wideouts call Carolina home, it will be tough for Horn Jr. to see the field as often as he should.
The realistic expectation for Horn Jr. is for him to occasionally line up on the outside, especially on designed screens and quick flat throws, which would allow him to make plays in open space. He will also most definitely be a featured special-teams player, and him earning the starting punt-returner spot is not far-fetched. There are a lot of possibilities and a lot of ways the Panthers can use him, so getting him in the sixth round is tremendous value, but do not be surprised if his name does not pop up in the stat sheet all too often. He has all the tools to move up the depth chart, but for now, he is not going to start, even if he could on many other NFL teams.
