Why This Colorado Receiver Might be the Steal of the 2025 NFL Draft
Day Three picks are often labeled as flyer picks, meaning that the team is taking a flyer on the player. They can be deemed as cut candidates early on in training camp because approximately 20% of day three picks end up making the 53-man roster. This year, the Carolina Panthers selected Jimmy Horn Jr. with the 208th pick in the sixth round. The son of former four-time Pro Bowl wideout Joe Horn might just be the best day-three pick of the 2025 NFL Draft as he continues to shine in the early days of OTAs.
Horn Jr. never blew up the box score while at Colorado, but his impact as a player was felt heavily by Coach Prime’s squad. After transferring to CU Boulder from the University of South Florida, people started to pay attention to Horn Jr. because he joined a transfer-loaded roster and was one of the first players to commit in the Deion Sanders era. The ex-Bull joined Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders as they were poised for a college football playoff run. His years at Colorado were electric at times, but he did not manage crazy production.
His 2022 season was arguably his best as a Buff, tallying 656 yards on just 241 snaps. He primarily lined up in the slot, but he has a fluid and quick release that allows him to play on the outside as well. In 2023, Horn Jr. garnered more attention, but his production did not change. He put up 566 yards on 20 more receptions. This past season, he was not featured as heavily as many thought he would be. Horn Jr. only played 287 passing downs and only reeled in one touchdown. With that being said, he averaged nearly seven yards after the catch and showcased his speed on multiple occasions. His speed, quickness, and creativity were all on display whenever he had the ball, which is why Carolina grabbed him in the sixth round.
Horn Jr. has reportedly impressed during the first week of OTAs, showcasing his elite speed and footwork. While he most likely will not be an every-down guy for Carolina, right away at least, Horn Jr. could fit this squad as a gadget guy and even as a returner. He is currently listed as the starting punt returner on the depth chart, a position the Panthers have not cemented in quite some time. As a returner, Horn Jr. offers a unique blend of speed and craftiness. Along with his elite speed comes lightning-fast acceleration. He can turn the corner in the wink of an eye while still reading the field and knowing where his blockers are.
The last successful offensive chess piece the Panthers had was Curtis Samuel, and he left for Washington in 2021. They liked to line him up in the slot and the backfield, and featured the former Buckeye on many screens; that is what Horn Jr. could bring to an already stout offense. Horn Jr. has the kind of quickness that is not seen often, and if Carolina can figure out a way to utilize it, he could be a difference-maker right away. Wherever he is lining up, he needs to find a way to get into open space.
Horn Jr. has a light frame. He stands at just five-foot-ten and weighs under 170 pounds, both things that could deter the Panthers from throwing him in the mix right away. If Horn Jr. continues to show out in camp, though, Carolina might not have a choice. It looks to be a no-brainer that he makes the roster, so one of Hunter Renfrow and David Moore might be on the chopping block. Horn Jr. adds a new dimension to this Panthers offense, a part of it that Dave Canales has not gotten to have fun with yet, so it is for sure something to watch for in 2025.
