When you’re rebuilding a team around a young quarterback, speed kills — and the Carolina Panthers may have just added a secret weapon in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
With the 208th overall pick, the Panthers selected Colorado wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr., a dynamic playmaker who brings a different flavor to an evolving wide receiver room. At 5-foot-8 and 174 pounds, Horn isn’t built like a traditional outside receiver — but he’s not here to be traditional. He’s here to make things happen in space.
A Vertical Threat for Bryce Young
Most of Carolina’s receiving corps — led by first-rounder Tetairoa McMillan and veteran Adam Thielen — thrives in the short-to-intermediate zones. Horn adds something different: vertical juice. He ran a 4.46-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, and his 38-inch vertical and 10-foot-8 broad jump hint at explosive athleticism. In 2024, he posted 58 catches for 567 yards and six touchdowns, proving he can be more than just a gadget player. Horn gives Bryce Young a chance to stretch defenses and hit chunk plays — something the Panthers have sorely lacked.
An Immediate Impact on Special Teams
Horn’s path to the 53-man roster likely starts with special teams. He averaged 10.3 yards per punt return last year for Colorado and returned kicks in all four of his collegiate seasons. In a draft where Carolina already added Trevor Etienne — another return option— Horn’s inclusion signals that GM Dan Morgan is serious about flipping field position and stealing hidden yardage.
There’s no guarantee a sixth-rounder makes the roster, but Horn brings electricity every time he touches the ball.
For a Panthers team hungry for explosiveness and identity, Jimmy Horn Jr. is more than a flyer pick — he’s a potential spark plug. Whether it’s as a returner, gadget guy, or eventual slot burner, Horn has a real shot to turn heads in Charlotte.
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