CJ Henderson's Tampa performance. Could he become a force in 2022?

[SCO96]

https://www.derp/2022/1/11/22877328/big-mo-how-the-buccaneers-pillaged-the-panthers-in-week-18

With essentially all of the Panthers starting secondary missing this game, CJ Henderson was tasked with playing 100% of the team’s defensive snaps against a motivated Tom Brady. Henderson had four tackles on the day, but was largely invisible, which is exactly what you want to see from a cornerback. An invisible corner often means he’s locking up his man and the quarterback has to look elsewhere.

Per PFF, Henderson played 40 coverage snaps and was targeted seven times. Those targets yielded just 34 yards and a passer rating of 81.2. The three other Panthers defensive backs who were targeted each surrendered passer ratings over 100.  Let’s hope Henderson can build on this outing and justify the 2022 third round pick the Panthers traded to land him.

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We now that it is highly unlikely that we will be able to retain both Donte and Stephon as cornerbacks for the 2022 season. We may not be able to retian either one of them depending on their contract demands.

Jaycee should be back next year. Keith Taylor has shown some promise. I know we have to account for Brady not having AB or Chris Godwin in the Tampa game, but if CJ lived up to his original draft slot (Top 10 pick in 2019), Could we ride with those guys as our top 3 corners next year and use the money we'd need or Gilmore and/or Jackson to fix up the line, address some other weak areas, and resign a valuable like FA like Reddick? Could this team succeed without either Donte or Stephon in 2022?

Note: On the record, I'd really like to keep Gilmore...but I realize it may not be possible, especially if he want to play for a contender during the final years of his career.

 

[t96]

I still am a fan of the Henderson trade. If we really want to invest cap space in improving the OL and still keep guys like Reddick and Burns long term we may have to let both Donte and Gilmore walk. Horn and Henderson could be a solid starting pair and really cheap. His upside was worth the pick and Arnold was pretty worthless to us anyways. It's tough since we wasted other draft picks on Darnold but I think this one was a good value trade for a player who's better and has more upside than anyone we'd draft with that pick anyways.

[t96]

Also if we play our cards right we could wind up with a fair amount of comp picks in 2023 to help alleviate the ones we've wasted.

[Tbe]

Henderson was invisible because there were easier targets.

[thefuzz]

Taylor, Horn, and Henderson is a good set of corners...I believe.

We will likely need to let Gilmore and Jackson leave to invest in OL...and I hope that's what we do.

 

[NYPantherFan]

Biggest issue for me is Henderson's tackling ability. It's pretty much non-existent and they wiffs just pop out while watching the game.

He's a lot like Jackson was early on with not committing to tackling. 

[Adb6368]

Bouye played extremely well also and will be back next year. I feel fine letting Gilmore and dj walk unless the deals they get are reasonable. 

[Cdparr7]

Letting Jackson and Gilmore both walk would give us a lot of cap room. We could keep Bouye, Horn, Henderson and still be okay.

[KSpan]

14 minutes ago, Tbe said:

Henderson was invisible because there were easier targets.

Which is precisely the point.

[SteveSmithTD89]

16 minutes ago, t96 said:

Also if we play our cards right we could wind up with a fair amount of comp picks in 2023 to help alleviate the ones we've wasted.

The issue with this is we can't invest cap space into the OL and still net comp picks from Gilmore/Jackson. Theyre going to cancel each other out. 

[therealmjl]

9 minutes ago, Adb6368 said:

Bouye played extremely well also and will be back next year. I feel fine letting Gilmore and dj walk unless the deals they get are reasonable. 

Extremely well? When?

[davos]

Bouye is a forgotten man who I thought was our best asset and is contracted through 2022. Jackson can make money elsewhere.

We’re set IMO with Horn-Gilmoure-Bouye-Henderson-Taylor

Just let Jackson walk and work with Gilmore on a respectable vet/hometown deal. Not the end of the world if he doesn’t come back though so not overpay.

[Ricky Spanish]

Jackson got exposed down the stretch. First half of his year was better than the second half, and once again, he couldn't complete a full season. 

Gilmore, while older, is the better corner. Would love to keep him but it really depends on what kind of money he is asking for. 

[CBDellinger]

Dont get your hopes up.  The fans in Jax nicknamed Henderson "Sleepy" for a reason.