The Cleveland Browns made a huge splash in NFL Free Agency. They inked former Rams safety John Johnson III to a reasonable deal for three years. However, safety wasn’t the only Browns secondary problem. With Greedy Williams missing the entire year with an injury, guys like M.J. Stewart, Terrance Mitchell and Kevin Johnson had to step up and see a lot of action this year. While they weren’t the worst secondary in the NFL, they were pretty close. The Browns still need to add another cornerback to pair with All-Pro Denzel Ward, and NFL Draft prospect Jaycee Horn is candidate.
Horn withdrew from South Carolina in the middle of the fall season to focus on training for the NFL Draft. Horn is the son of former all-Pro Saints wide receiver, Joe Horn. Horn (Jaycee), as a player is incredibly athletic and has a combination of skills that will allow him to play on the outside and in the slot in the NFL. The Browns don’t pick until 26th in the draft, so it would be a bit of a surprise if Horn slipped to them, but it’s not impossible.
Jaycee Horn Draft Profile
Height: 6’1″ | Weight: 205 lbs.
Career Tackles: 101 | Tackles For Loss: 7
Interceptions: 2 | Passes Defended: 23
Sacks: 3 | Forced Fumbles: 2
Age: 21 | Class: Junior | School: South Carolina
Positives: As stated above, Horn is incredibly athletic. He is very quick to change direction and has great footwork. He is also very physical, so he goes at it versus receivers and is very competitive. He also stays in contact with receivers, and turns his head quick when the ball is thrown. He is also great tracking the ball, and grabbing it at the highest point. Horn is also very good in the run game, using his athleticism to shake off blocks from backs and tight ends. For a lot of young corners, they often get lost in coverage. That couldn’t be further from the truth for Horn. He covers crossing routes very well, and uses his physical nature to stay with the receiver throughout the route.
Negatives: While Horn is great in the run game, he often over-pursues and needs to improve his open field tackling. Really, the only other point of contention is that he is often to quick to bail on his back-pedal. He is also late to some receivers while playing zone coverage.
Jaycee Horn Draft Projection
Overall, Horn is a lock to be a first-round pick, barring something unforeseen. While it’s very possible he slips to the Browns at 26, with most teams electing to improve their offense, it’s not very likely. If the Browns have the opportunity to draft him, they absolutely should.
Draft Projection: Middle of Round 1
