Which two Carolina Panthers make for the team’s best pairing?
CBS Sports NFL writer Jeff Kerr just got to the bottom of that of that—for the Panthers and the rest of the league’s teams. He named 32 dynamic duos using the following criteria:
- Play on the same side of the ball
- Contribute to the team’s offensive or defensive success
- Can be from the same position, but not a prerequisite
- Can be the two best players on that particular side of the ball
- They don’t have to play an official game together (so rookies and free agents are included)
Rookies, huh? Well, while using Bryce Young may be tempting, Kerr instead opts for the other side of the ball in cornerback Jaycee Horn and safety Jeremy Chinn:
While the Panthers are rebuilding their offense under Frank Reich, the defense has some playmakers who can make a huge impact in the NFC South. Horn allowed just a 35.8 passer rating in coverage last season, with no touchdowns and three interceptions. He was only targeted 51 times last season.
Chinn played just 11 games last season, but had 70 tackles, a sack and six passes defensed. He didn’t have any interceptions, but opposing quarterbacks had just a 73.6 passer rating targeting Chinn.
Both players are linchpins of the Carolina secondary.
Both players also, obviously, experienced the effects of the ol’ injury bug in 2022. Horn and Chinn missed a combined 10 games, as the former sustained a rib strain and a broken wrist while the latter dealt with a bum hammy.
But, as Horn himself said, they have to be available for the Panthers to progress. And if they are, opposing offenses will have to take on a pretty tough one-two punch week in and week out.
