The ink isn't dry yet. It won't be until Wednesday, March 12 at 4 p.m. EST, when the NFL's new league year begins, but the Carolina Panthers sent shockwaves through the front offices of all 32 franchises including that of the Philadelphia Eagles.
What's that? No, that isn't a misprint. Yes, we meant to say the Carolina Panthers. They've signed Pro Bowl corner Jaycee Horn to the largest deal ever given to a defensive back in NFL history.
That is he'll be the highest-paid DB until the next guy is signed and the market explodes even further.
Jaycee's deal is reportedly a four-year extension. It carries a whopping $100 million price tag. ESPN's Adam Schefter details it could reach a maximum of $108 million in incentives.
It's funny how one of the league's worst teams can have an impact on one of its best. Those are the kinds of ripples we see free agency make.
Jaycee Horn's brand new deal will have a massive impact on Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean's price tag during free agency in a few more years.
You can ask some of the guys that know our staff here. It was just a few days ago when we were saying we'd like to walk in Howie Roseman's shoes for a few days. We take that back. Just watching him cook from a distance is enough to inspire a migraine.
Dude has a tough job to do!
Case in point... Can you imagine the type of coin Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith are going to get in a few years? You realize Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean are going to need new deals cooked up the year after that, right?
Let's focus on Philly's young star duo at cornerback. Jaycee Horn's deal is seemingly evidence that the DB market will continue to grow and assure Q and Coop of larger paydays than Horn's deal.
Oh, and here's the thing. DeJean and Mitchell have done something Horn hasn't. Philly's stars have already won Super Bowls.
If you remember, Philly had interest in the former South Carolina Gamecock during the 2021 NFL Draft. All temptation was removed however when the Carolina Panthers drafted him eighth overall.
We may never know what may have happened had he been available at 10. But, the Birds made the right decision by acquiring DeVonta Smith (And, we'd like to believe they would have selected the Slim Reaper anyway).
Still, here we are, almost four years later, and Jaycee is still triggering shockwaves in the City of Brotherly Love even if the aftershock isn't felt until 2027. Coop is scheduled to hit free agency in 2028. The Birds have a fifth-year club option built into Mitchell's deal by him being a former first-round selection.
Howie Roseman will need some headache medicine when Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean are ready to cash in. And, remember, Philadelphia still has to pay Nolan Smith and Jalen Carter before that happens.
But, here's the good news. The NFL's future is secure. The salary cap keeps rising, and our job is easy. We get to kick our feet up and watch these guys continue to gorw into two of the best young corners in the game.