Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. could ultimately lose his job heading into the 2026 NFL season.
Last year, the Carolina Panthers selected a pair of wide receivers in the NFL Draft, first nabbing Tetairoa McMillan with the eighth overall pick and then snatching Jimmy Horn Jr. in the sixth round.
Horn was immediately viewed as a steal thanks to his gamebreaking speed, but his collegiate production was also a bit questionable.
The 5-foot-8 burner caught just 37 passes for 441 yards and a touchdown during his final collegiate campaign at Colorado, although that may have had a lot to do with a lack of opportunity considering Travis Hunter ate up most of the targets.
However, Horn did not exactly do much during his rookie campaign with the Panthers, either, managing 11 catches for 108 yards.
McMillan is clearly the No. 1 receiver in Carolina, and Jalen Coker has established himself as the No. 2. Then there's Xavier Legette, who, for better or for worse, is the Panthers' No. 3 receiver on the depth chart.
Carolina doesn't really have much of a choice with Legette right now considering it used a first-round pick on him two years ago, so the Panthers want to try and squeeze some value out of him.
Carolina Panthers receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images.Beyond that, Carolina lacks bodies, so you would think Horn would get a legitimate chance in 2026, right?
Well, not necessarily.
The Panthers signed John Metchie II — a receiver rather similar to Horn — in free agency, and there is as general expectation that Carolina will select another wide out in the NFL Draft next month.
While Horn could still certainly impress the Panthers in training camp and win a roster spot, there is also the chance that the 23-year-old could lose his job altogether.
Let's face it: there is a reason why Carolina, which could have certainly used some more weapons for Bryce Young last season, barely used Horn in Year 1.
Yes, maybe the Panthers simply felt he wasn't ready, but there is also the possibility that they simply don't think he's very good.
I liked Horn a lot coming out of college, and I still think he has a chance to become an impactful player on the professional level, but there is no doubt that the Sanford, Fl. native is in the danger zone with camp around the corner.
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