Jaguars, Panthers agree to trade involving defensive back CJ Henderson

The Jacksonville Jaguars have agreed to trade former ninth overall pick CJ Henderson to the Carolina Panthers, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The Jaguars will also send a fifth round pick to the Panthers. Jacksonville will acquire tight end Dan Arnold and a third round pick in the deal.

Trade! The #Panthers are closing in on a trade for CB CJ Henderson, sources say.

The details: CAR TE Dan Arnold and a third-round pick to the #Jaguars for the former Jax first-round pick Henderson and a fifth-rounder. Immediate help in Carolina, while Henderson starts new.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 27, 2021

Henderson started both of Jacksonville’s first two games of the season. He was targeted eight times, allowing five completions. Henderson also has eight tackles on the season. The Jaguars made Henderson inactive in Week Three against the Arizona Cardinals.

Arnold is in the fourth year of his NFL career and was in his first with the Panthers. In his career, he has played in 34 games. Arnold has 58 receptions, 799 yards and seven touchdowns so far in his NFL career. In three games with the Panthers, he had seven receptions for 84 yards.

Carolina is a good spot for a fresh start for Henderson

In early August, it was reported that the Jaguars were exploring possible trades involving Henderson. The Jaguars selected him with the ninth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft out of Florida. As a rookie last season, Henderson dealt with injuries and his year was cut short. He played through a shoulder injury during the games he did play in before a groin injury ultimately ended his season. Henderson saw action in eight games as a rookie, totaling 36 tackles, six passes defended, and one interception.

The deal makes a lot of sense for a Panthers team that just lost 2021 eighth overall pick corner Jaycee Horn with multiple broken bones in his foot. Horn suffered the injury in Carolina’s Thursday night victory over the Houston Texans. He was backpedaling while defending a play, twisting in his foot and suffering multiple broken bones.

Horn is expected to miss 2-3 months, and the injury could ultimately be season ending. Henderson should likely slide right into Horn’s role, giving him a great opportunity for a fresh start in the NFL.

In his collegiate career with the Florida Gators, Henderson played in 30 games across three seasons. Henderson had 93 tackles, eight tackles for loss, four sacks, 20 passes defended, six interceptions, two forced fumbles, and two touchdowns in his career with the Gators.