Could it be possible that the Carolina Panthers may take an elite corner opposite of Jaycee Horn?
Chandler Rivers, a highly regarded cornerback prospect in the NFL draft, is expected to be a second or third round pick. Rivers played four seasons at Duke University.
“He spent his entire college career with the Blue Devils, a rarity in today’s college transfer portal world. He played all four years and was a full-time starter the last three. After his 2025 season, Rivers was named second-team All-ACC.” Kassidy Hill wrote in a Carolina Panthers article.
Chandler Rivers may be a key target for the Panthers franchise.
Chandler Rivers’ Rise at Duke University
“Rivers has 29 passes defensed in his four-year career, with seven interceptions, including two returned for a touchdown, three forced fumbles, and 1.5 sacks. According to Pro Football Focus, he’s played the majority of his snaps as an outside corner but still slotted inside 18 percent of the time this past season.” Hill wrote.
Rivers explained that his rise is due to multiple players he studied. He mentioned elite corners such as Patrick Surtain, Mikey Sainristil–and conveniently–Jaycee Horn.
“I watch a lot of like Patrick Surtain, one, because I feel like he’s one of the best in the game. And then like Jaycee Horn, I like watching him because I feel like he’s a technician,” Rivers said in the Carolina Panthers article. “And then, like some guys that I feel like relate to me, is like Mikey Sainristil from the Commanders and Upton Stout from the Forty-Niners. I like watching them guys because I feel like I can relate a lot from my game to theirs.
“I like watching (Horn’s) off-man tape because he’s a technician and I pride myself on being a technician, being detailed, and that’s just what I get when I watch him play.”
Jaycee Horn and Chandler Rivers opposite of each other is something Panthers fans would look forward to seeing. If Rivers falls into the Panthers’ lap, the pickup could improve the team’s secondary significantly.
Chandler Rivers’ Confidence as a Player
Rivers is known for his versatility and his playmaking ability. The 5’9 corner can cover the slot and outside coverage. Rivers ran 4.4 40-yard-dash with a broad jump of 10’10.
“I showed it a lot on film when I was in college, coming in the third down package, or even the first, second down, if I needed to play nickel, I was able to play nickel, and I mean that’s what I pride myself on, honestly, being versatile,” Rivers said in the article.
“I feel like I’m one of the most versatile DBs in the country, and I mean, I feel like it shows on film, and I feel like that’s why teams want to see me everywhere…Honestly, I like playing all of it. I just like being able to move around.”
Panther fans will look forward to seeing what will occur in this NFL draft. There is always room for improvement for a defense that is up-and-coming. The Panthers will look to add youth to their team.
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