From Patrick Surtain II to Jaycee Horn to Derek Stingley Jr., the NFL's top young cornerbacks are doing their best to keep up with elite wide receivers on the field and in their bank accounts.
For Horn, who signed a four-year, $100 million extension with the Carolina Panthers earlier this month, the rising figures are warranted considering the degree of difficulty that comes with playing the position.
"Yeah, we not all the way there with [wide receivers] yet, but I feel like we should be making what they're making or more just because our job, man I feel like outside of quarterback, it's the hardest job on the field," Horn told Tom Pelissero and Steve Wyche on Tuesday's The Insiders. "It takes a lot to be able to play corner. But you know it is what it is, it's all life-changing money, so you can't complain too much about it."
The Denver Broncos' Surtain, ahead of becoming the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year, hauled in a four-year, $96 million extension in September of last year. Then Horn broke the bank in March and the Houston Texans' Stingley garnered a three-year, $90 million pay bump roughly a week later.
Stingley's in agreement with Horn on the pay distribution.
"Receivers are starting to touch $40 million [annually]," Stingley said earlier this month. "[We're] the people that are going out there and competing against them. I think it's good that the cornerback position and other defensive positions are starting to get up there, too. But I think it's just good for the sport. Obviously with time, it's gonna keep on going up, so I'm excited to see who is gonna make [the next] deal like that."
Still, as noted by Horn on Tuesday, they're not there yet when it comes to keeping up with receivers when payday comes.
Cincinnati Bengals receiver Ja'Marr Chase recently agreed to a four-year, $161 million deal, becoming the seventh at his position to average $30 million or more per season. Stingley is the first and only cornerback to get $30 million per year, while he and Horn are the only corners currently commanding $25 million annually.
Regardless, it's "life-changing money" as Horn noted, and he's grateful for it, along with the Panthers' dedication to him.
"You almost don't know how to feel, cause you dream about that day since you pick up a football; making life-changing money, getting to that second contract," Horn said of his initial reaction to the contract. "You know, that's the main goal when you come in the league. And then when you actually do it, it's a surreal feeling. Now I'm just ready to get back to work and prove that I am worth that money."
Horn, 25, is coming off his fourth season and his first Pro Bowl campaign, having played a career-high 15 games, with his 68 tackles, 132 pass breakups and two sacks all career bests, as well.
Prior to 2024, Horn had missed 29 games due to injury over his initial three seasons.
Getting rewarded by Carolina despite all of the injury woes wasn't lost on Horn.
"It meant a lot to me, especially what I've been through injury-wise," he said. "The ups and downs of that, they stood beside me the whole time and let me know that if I go handle my business on the field and play good football, they were going to take care of me. I tried to deliver on my side and they stood beside me and delivered on their side. And, now, I'm just ready to change the defense around and bring some winning football back to Carolina."
Despite having one of the finest corners in the league, the Panthers were dreadful on defense in 2024, finishing dead last in yards and points allowed.
Horn is inspired to change that and believes there's reason beyond just his prowess as to why that will happen.
Standout defensive tackle Derrick Brown is set to return after missing all but one game last year with a knee injury. The Panthers also signed safety Tre'von Moehrig and defensive linemen Tershawn Wharton and Bobby Brown III this month in free agency.
"I'm definitely glad we brought all those guys in, and I just feel like we've got all the pieces we need," Horn said. "Getting Derrick back, D.J. Wonnum, our edge who was out most of the year last year who I think is underrated as a player, like getting those guys back and then adding on in free agency acquisitions, I'm just excited to get back to OTAs, get to work and just put it together so we can be a dominating defense."
Horn made a life-changing contract a reality this offseason, and now he's aiming to make the Panthers defense a formidable force once again, as well.
