Philadelphia Eagles: 5 DeVonta Smith matchups to circle on your calendar
By David Esser
Jaycee Horn, Panthers, Week 5
A player who the Philadelphia Eagles themselves were reported to have had a great deal of interest in leading up to the 2021 NFL Draft, Jaycee Horn ended up being the first defensive player off the board. A 6-1, 205lbs defensive back from the University of South Carolina, Horn has the physical – and mental – makeup of someone who can thrive in a proper “CB1” role.
Joining a Panthers defense that has already undergone a bit of a “youth movement” following the departure of Ron Rivera two years back, Horn gets to lineup alongside guys like Brian Burns and Jeremy Chinn during his rookie season.
When it comes to squaring off against the Eagles in Week 5, Horn already has some limited experience dealing with their new #1 wide receiver. The two faced off against each other in 2019, a game where Horn held Smith to 60 total yards when primarily matched up against him. Smith did however finish the affair with 136 total yards and two touchdowns, as Horn had to spend time guarding the likes of Henry Ruggs and Jerry Jeudy as well.
According to PFF, Smith’s 60 receiving yards were actually the most someone recorded against Horn during his Gamecocks career – a rather significant statistic, in my opinion.