When the Jacksonville Jaguars drafted C.J. Henderson ninth overall in 2020, they thought they were getting a shutdown corner who could fill the void left by the Jalen Ramsey trade one year prior. However, it was quickly clear that he wasn't going to work out in Duval. And three weeks into his sophomore campaign, Henderson was shipped out of town.
Since 2021, Henderson has spent time with the Carolina Panthers and the Pittsburgh Steelers before landing with the Atlanta Falcons late in 2025. He re-signed with them in the offseason but wasn't guaranteed a roster spot.
Not only did Henderson secure a roster spot with the Falcons this season, but he's actively become a key contributor on their secondary as well.
C.J. Henderson was a force for the Falcons in the win over the Packers
C.J. Henderson had a strong showing against the Green Bay Packers in Week 3, registering three crucial passes defensed and a team-high eight tackles. Simply put, he played a key role in the Falcons' first win of the 2026 season.
C.J. Henderson putting out DB teach tape 🎞️ pic.twitter.com/DwQbix8xaC
— NFL (@NFL) September 25, 2026
Dating back to training camp, Henderson made plays. Then again, you probably would have been hard to press to find someone who genuinely thought that he would become a force in the Atlanta secondary.
Thus far, the former Florida Gator has appeared in three games with one start for the Falcons this season, registering 13 total tackles and five pass deflections. His career high is six batted passes, so it may be a matter of a few games before he sets a new personal best.
It's also worth noting that Henderson is making just $2.3 million in 2026, so if he keeps playing at a high level, he could get a substantial raise in 2026.
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C.J. Henderson could at last prove former Jaguars GM Dave Caldwell right
C.J. Henderson isn't the only Jaguars' 2020 first-round pick who's enjoying a career revival after leaving Duval. K'Lavon Chaisson spent four seasons with the Jags before bolting to the Carolina Panthers in 2024. He was cut almost immediately but managed to land with the Las Vegas Raiders, where he began to put it all together.
Since his stint with the Raiders, Chaisson has become a playmaker for the New England Patriots and the Washington Commanders.
Circling back to Henderson, he flashed a bit in 2020 before a groin injury cut his rookie campaign short. Expected to bounce back the following year, he instead missed time in training camp and quickly fell out of Urban Meyer's favor. By Week 3 of the 2021 season, Jacksonville had seen enough and traded him to Carolina.
Keep in mind that Henderson didn't stand out with the Panthers, and he didn't play for the Steelers. It wasn't until the Miami, Florida native signed with the Falcons that he hit his stride. And that's the thing, players' readiness isn't always variable, so even the most talented ones may need time before they figure things out.
That appears to be the case with C.J. Henderson, who was unable to live up to his draft billing with the Jaguars but has managed to flourish in Atlanta. Looking back, former general manager Dave Caldwell was onto something; he just didn't know that it was going to take a handful of years for his players to break out.
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