CHARLOTTE — The Panthers have taken deliberate steps to add young talent on defense.
So when they got the opportunity to add to the list Monday, they took a big swing — even if it cost them a player they didn't necessarily want to give up.
The Panthers filled in the gap created by cornerback Jaycee Horn's broken foot by trading for 2020 first-round pick C.J. Henderson.
They sent tight end Dan Arnold and a 2022 third-round pick to Jacksonville for Henderson and a fifth-round pick.
Henderson will turn 23 this week, and he joins a long list of ascending talent, including Derrick Brown (23), Brian Burns (23), Jeremy Chinn (23) and Donte Jackson (25).
From that standpoint, it can be interpreted as a win-now move, though the Panthers would have likely considered Henderson even if they hadn't gotten off to a 3-0 start or if Horn hadn't gotten hurt.
Like Horn, Henderson's a bigger corner (6-0, 204) who can run, giving them the ability to match up with some of the larger receivers in the division.
And because the Jaguars have already paid his signing bonus and he has four more years (if you include the fifth-year option) of his rookie contract remaining, the Panthers can continue to build as they did in free agency this year. That's why Panthers head coach Matt Rhule said this wasn't about filling an immediate need, but adding a long-term asset.
"He's just a young player on his second team in two years," Rhule said of Henderson. "He just needs to come here and be one of the guys and be around our guys. . . . This is a really talented player we held in really high regard, and he was available. We had to make a hard decision.
"This is not a right-now/this-week conversation. This is about the next two years, three years. On defense, as you can see, when you have a bunch of good players it's fun to watch. So just hopefully he's one more guy in that group."
While it might seem unusual that Jacksonville would give up on a high pick so soon, a change in administrations there was part of the equation. Either way, Rhule referred back to advice he got from Dick Vermeil about waiting to see how top picks looked in a new system before making decisions one way or another.
"Dick Vermeil said to me years ago, . . . be patient with great talents, that's why you have a job," Rhule recalled. "I have no debate at all about C.J.'s talent. Where he is now as a player I don't know those things because I haven't been around him.
"It was an opportunity for us to go get a top-15 pick for two and a half more years. It's not a short-sighted thing, a long term thing and hopefully we can get the best out of him."
Jackson's entering the final year of his rookie deal, but the Panthers would still like to keep him around if they can, and have told him as much.
That would create a wealth of talent in the secondary whenever Horn returns, whether that's late this year or next.
The trade leaves them thin on draft picks in 2022, with just six total, and one on the first two days (their own first-rounder).
But the way general manager Scott Fitterer has moved around (and the way Seattle has always traded back), it's reasonable to expect that more picks could be coming their way.
In addition to their own first, they currently own the Rams' fourth-rounder, a fifth from the Jaguars, their own fifth, either their own sixth or the Raiders' (the higher of the two goes to Buffalo), and Miami's seventh-rounder.
But to think in those terms, they sent a second- and fourth-rounder next year for a quality starting quarterback (Sam Darnold), and now a third for a starting-caliber corner.
Henderson was a consideration last year during the first round, but they ultimately went with Brown with the seventh overall pick.
And now they have another quality prospect, at a reduced rate.
View photos of C.J. Henderson during his time with Jacksonville in 2020 and 2021 as well as his college career at Florida.
Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback C.J. Henderson (23) during an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback C.J. Henderson covers a play against the Miami Dolphins during the second half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton)
Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback CJ Henderson (23) during a pre-season NFL football game, Aug. 14, 2021 in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Don Montague)
FILE - Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback CJ Henderson (23) follows a play during the second half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans in Jacksonville, in this Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020, file photo. Henderson hasn't been the same since a shoulder injury last October. New coach Urban Meyer raved about Henderson's rehab in March and said "we're counting on him." But Meyer's faith in Henderson seems to be waning. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)
Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback C.J. Henderson (23) sets up for a play during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Cleveland Browns, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback CJ Henderson (23) lines up against the Houston Texans during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Jacksonville Jaguars defensive back CJ Henderson (23) lines up for the snap during an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Matt Patterson)
Houston Texans quarterback Tyrod Taylor (5) is sacked by Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback CJ Henderson (23) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones, left, drops a pass as he is defended by Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback C.J. Henderson (23) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton)
Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback C.J. Henderson (23) during a preseason NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Monday, Aug. 23, 2021, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman)
Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback CJ Henderson (23) during an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
Jacksonville Jaguars' C.J. Henderson knocks the ball away from Green Bay Packers' Davante Adams after a catch during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020, in Green Bay, Wis. The Jaguars recovered the fumble. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)
Jacksonville Jaguars' C.J. Henderson runs during the second half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020, in Green Bay, Wis. The Packers won 24-20. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)
Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback CJ Henderson (23) sets up for a play in front of Houston Texans running back Duke Johnson (25) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen (13) runs after the catch in front of Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback C.J. Henderson (23) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Inglewood, Calif. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback CJ Henderson (23) breaks up a pass intended for Detroit Lions wide receiver Kenny Golladay (19) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback C.J. Henderson (23) celebrates after breaking up a pass intended for Indianapolis Colts wide receiver T.Y. Hilton (13) on a fourth-down play at the end of the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback CJ Henderson (23) follows a play during the second half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback C.J. Henderson, center, intercepts a pass during the first half of an NFL football game, against the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton)
Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback C.J. Henderson (23) celebrates an interception during the first half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton)
Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback C.J. Henderson Armstead celebrates a play against the Indianapolis Colts during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Florida defensive back CJ Henderson, right, covers Missouri wide receiver Jonathan Nance during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019, in Columbia, Mo. Florida won 23-6. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Florida defensive back CJ Henderson (1) rushes the line of scrimmage during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Miami Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Florida defensive back CJ Henderson (1) follows a play during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Miami Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
South Carolina's Bryan Edwards (89) catches a pass as Florida's CJ Henderson (1) defends in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019, in Columbia, SC. (AP Photo/Mic Smith)
Florida defensive back CJ Henderson takes up his position during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Missouri Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Charleston Southern wide receiver Kameron Brown can't make a catch in the end zone as Florida defensive back CJ Henderson (5) breaks up the pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Miami wide receiver Jeff Thomas (4), right, is knocked out of bounds by Florida linebacker David Reese II (33) and defensive back CJ Henderson (1) after catching a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
South Carolina's Ryan Hilinski, front, is tackled by Florida's CJ Henderson in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019, in Columbia, SC. Florida defeated South Carolina 38-27. (AP Photo/Mic Smith)
South Carolina quarterback Jake Bentley (19) is stopped by Florida defensive back CJ Henderson (5) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
FILE - In this Sept. 22, 2018, file photo, Tennessee running back Madre London (31) is tackled by Florida defensive lineman Tedarrell Slaton (56) and defensive back CJ Henderson (5) in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Knoxville, Tenn. Tennessee has been outscored 69-16 in the first quarter of games this season and hasn't scored a first-quarter touchdown against a single Football Bowl Subdivision opponent. Tennessee (3-4, 1-3 SEC) will try to avoid digging itself another early hole Saturday when the Vols visit South Carolina (3-3, 2-3). (AP Photo/Wade Payne, File)
Florida defensive back CJ Henderson (5) lines up for a play during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Charleston Southern Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Miami running back DeeJay Dallas (13) rushes for yardage as Florida defensive back CJ Henderson (1) defends during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Florida linebacker Cristian Garcia (43) blocks as cornerback CJ Henderson (5) returns an interception for a touchdown as Michigan linebacker Jack Dunaway (88) pursues in the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 2, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Florida cornerback CJ Henderson (5) breaks up a pass intended for Vanderbilt wide receiver Trent Sherfield (10) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Florida defensive back CJ Henderson (1) defends as Miami running back Cam'Ron Harris (23) rushes for yardage during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
