The Carolina Panthers made two key moves to shore up their secondary on Monday.
First, the Panthers locked up cornerback Jaycee Horn with a new four-year, $100 million contract extension that will make him the highest-paid defensive back in the NFL, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported on Monday. The deal includes $70 million guaranteed, per Rapoport.
Hours later, Carolina agreed to a three-year contract with Tre'von Moehrig, one of the top available safeties in free agency. Moehrig's deal is worth $51 million with a maximum value of $60 million, per Rapoport and NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero.
A former top-10 pick, Horn entered 2024 wanting to prove himself as one of the league's best corners. Although he only intercepted one pass, Horn also had 13 pass break-ups and 2.0 sacks in 15 starts to earn his first Pro Bowl bid.
The new deal will pay Horn an average of $25 million per season, which tops the two previous highest contracts at corner -- Miami's Jalen Ramsey ($24.1 million APY) and Denver's Patrick Surtain II ($24M APY).
Horn, 25, is also now the highest-paid Panther, topping defensive tackle Derrick Brown, whose deal averages $24 million per season. In 37 career starts, Horn has totaled five interceptions, 26 passes defensed, two sacks and eight tackles for loss.
Moehrig, 26, is another young piece for the Panthers to build their defense around. Moehrig has emerged as one of the better young safeties in the NFL, recording five interceptions over the past two seasons with the Raiders.
