Jimmy Horn Jr. made a statement at Carolina Panthers rookie minicamp last week, turning in what several reports described as the “most impressive body of work” among all wide receivers in attendance—including the team’s No. 8 overall draft pick, Tetairoa McMillan.
Jimmy was selected in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, and has drawn widespread praise from team insiders, analysts, and coaching staff. Multiple reports out of Carolina’s camp highlighted Horn as the “twitchiest route runner on the field,” noting he was “noticeably quicker” than McMillan and others.
Horn’s work ethic also left a lasting impression on the Panthers’ coaching staff. According to team sources, he routinely stayed 30 minutes after each practice to catch passes and sharpen his routes—an approach that reportedly “blew away” several coaches.
His speed and footwork were described as “elite,” with some within the organization reportedly saying they had “never seen” movement like his from a rookie receiver. Those traits, combined with his extra effort, are pushing Horn into serious early roster consideration.
In fact, some NFL insiders now believe Horn could become the Panthers’ leading slot receiver as a rookie.
Former Panthers linebacker and current analyst Thomas Davis echoed that sentiment during his breakdown on TD’s Film Room, referring to Horn as a “steal” in the sixth round.
“When you watch Jimmy Horn Jr. play, he’s a ball of energy,” Davis said. “He’s always smiling, always excited, and he has a ton of energy surrounding him. His speed and ability to track the ball in the air are phenomenal.”
Horn credited his development at Colorado under Coach Prime for his preparation.
“It prepared me real good,” Horn said during a Panthers media availability. “Our practices at Colorado were probably 15 minutes longer than this. Coach Prime prepped us pretty good.”
Horn’s next opportunity to showcase his talents will come during Organized Team Activities (OTAs) and training camp later this summer. While Carolina’s wide receiver depth chart includes first-rounder McMillan, Xavier Legette, Adam Thielen, and Jalen Coker, Horn appears to be carving out a niche in the slot and as a potential return specialist.
The Panthers open preseason play on August 8 against the Cleveland Browns, where Horn could square off against Shedeur Sanders. The regular season begins September 7 against Travis Hunter’s Jacksonville Jaguars.
With early buzz building, Jimmy Horn Jr. appears to be one of the early breakout candidates from the 2025 draft class—and another example of Coach Prime’s program producing NFL-ready talent.