Former South Carolina star now highest-paid defensive back in NFL history
Former South Carolina football star Jaycee Horn is now the highest-paid defensive back in NFL history. According to a report from NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, Horn signed an extension with the Carolina Panthers worth $100 Million. The contract will last for four seasons. Horn will receive $70 Million of the deal in guaranteed money.
Horn still had one year remaining on his rookie contract as Carolina picked up his fifth-year rookie option. However, with the extension, he will not reach free agency after next offseason. Per the terms of the new contract, Horn will be in Charlotte through at least the 2029 season. Making his deal even more valuable, the Panthers roughly doubled his 2025 salary from the $12.5 Million rookie scale extension.
Horn’s $25 Million average annual contract value surpasses the $24 Million mark earned by Denver Broncos star Patrick Surtain. His total contract value is similar to Surtain’s and Cleveland Browns’ corner Denzel Ward’s deal.
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In four seasons as a professional, Jaycee Horn has battled injuries, but he has proven himself to be one of the league’s best when healthy. In 15 games in 2024 (he sat out the final two games with a minor injury since the team had been eliminated from the postseason), he played 98% of the Panthers’ total snaps.
During his South Carolina football career, Horn was one of the best coverage men ever to don the Block C on his helmet. Horn rarely had balls thrown his way and routinely shut down his third of the field in the passing game. His exceptional performances in garnet and black earned him All-SEC accolades and helped make him the eighth overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
