Having traded Jalen Ramsey the year prior, the Jacksonville Jaguars entered the 2020 NFL Draft in desperate need of reinforcements at cornerback. With the No. 9 pick, they chose what they thought was the best possible prospect at the position: C.J. Henderson.
Unfortunately, things didn't pan out the way the Jags expected, with C.J. Henderson playing a measly 10 games during his brief stint in Jacksonville. Fast forward to 2025, and the former Florida Gator is having trouble finding work in the NFL.
Former Jaguars CB CJ Henderson just visted the Falcons (but didn't get an offer)
Mike Garofolo of NFL Media reported that the Atlanta Falcons hosted C.J. Henderson for a visit with the preseason around the corner, but it remains to be seen whether they'll sign him. It's been a few days since the news, and there hasn't been an update.
Perhaps the Falcons were doing due diligence in case they suffer an injury and will sign Henderson if needed. On the other hand, there's a chance they didn't come out of the meeting impressed with him. And that's the thing, the once-promising first-round pick has failed to live up to his draft billing.
At this point, Henderson is not much more than a backup at this stage of his career, and younger corners may have more upside than him. That could make teams hesitate to give him a roster spot that could otherwise go to a player who will have a bigger impact.
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Where did things go wrong for CJ Henderson with the Jaguars?
Expected to replace Jalen Ramsey, C.J. Henderson flashed as a rookie but also dealt with the learning curve all first-year players deal with. But then, a groin injury brought his 2020 season to an end. The Miami, Florida native then underwent labrum surgery early in 2021. He missed a good chunk of training camp for several reasons, and by the time the regular season started, the Jaguars had had enough.
After just three games into 2021, Jacksonville sent Henderson to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for tight end Dan Arnold and a third-round selection. He spent three seasons with the Panthers before becoming a free agent in 2024.
Henderson signed with the Houston Texans but didn't crack their 53-man roster. He proceeded to join the Pittsburgh Steelers practice squad and failed to do anything noteworthy. Once again, the veteran corner became a free agent in 2025 but has yet to find a new home. Teams in need of depth at the position could give him a call, but there may be better options out there.
Just recently, former Jaguars cornerback Tre Herndon signed with the Indianapolis Colts after losing Jaylon Jones to injury. The fact that Henderson isn't drawing more interest shows that clubs simply don't think he offers much value.
Maybe he will eventually find a job, but the prospect of C.J. Henderson joining a team currently doesn't look good.