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Jaycee Horn becomes highest-paid DB in NFL history with Carolina Panthers contract extension

On3 imageby:Sam Gillenwater•03/10/25•

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Panthers DB Jaycee Horn
Bob Donnan | Imagn Images

Jaycee Horn is coming off his best season in his fourth year with the Carolina Panthers. For that, the franchise has compensated him at a historic, market-changing number in the NFL.

Per Ian Rapoport, Carolina has signed Horn to a four-year deal worth a total of $100 million with $70 million of that guaranteed. The contract has a maximum value of up to $108 million. With that, Horn is now the highest-paid defensive back in NFL history. He and the Panthers both announced the news as Horn took to Twitter this morning to share his gratitude for the extension.

“Sources: There is a new highest-paid DB in the NFL history — as the #Panthers agreed on a huge extension with Pro Bowl CB Jaycee Horn,” Rapoport tweeted. “He gets a 4-year, $100M deal ($25M per year), with $70M guaranteed. Negotiated by Trevon Smith & David Mulugheta of @AthletesFirst.”

“God is the greatest! Panther nation let’s get it! #KeepPounding,” Horn responded.

The $25 million per year is highest now among defensive backs in the NFL. This contract also puts Horn just behind Denzel Ward in total value but ahead of a collection that consists of names like Marshon Lattimore, Marlon Humphrey, Trevon Diggs, and Patrick Surtain II.

Horn has appeared in 37 starts the past four seasons in Charlotte. In that time, he has posted 153 tackles, 26 deflections, and five interceptions plus a pair of sacks.

That includes this past season for the Panthers where Horn, who played the most games of his career so far, had career-highs with 68 tackles, 13 deflections, and both of his sacks to go with one pick in 15 starts. That earned him a spot as a Pro Bowler for the first time for the NFC.

This comes after Horn was a top selection by the Panthers in the 2021 NFL Draft. Carolina selected him eighth overall as the top corner off the board to keep him in the region after a three-year college career at South Carolina. His selection made him one of the highest-selected players in school history.

Even with that, though, the Panthers have had some of the league’s worst defenses in that time, specifically last season. They were in last place in both points and yards allowed last season at 31.4 points given up per game and 404.5 yards allowed. Yards allowed has been better in two of the four years, but points allowed has yet to be in the top half over that time in the NFL.

Horn just had his best season as a pro and got paid like it with this contract. He’ll now have to live up to it starting next season as the center of their defense in the secondary for Carolina.