Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales revealed details about Xavier Legette's offseason training.
During an interview with Joseph Person of The Athletic, Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales revealed details about Xavier Legette's offseason training.
According to Canales, Legette is going hard this offseason.
"Just working his butt off," Canales said. "He’s around the facility. While we can’t talk about football stuff and do meetings, he’s there. He’s grinding, he’s working. He understands what an opportunity he has. And he understands why we brought him here, to be that big, dynamic playmaker that we know he can be.
"While I know he may not have had the year he wanted to, he came through for us in some critical games. The Miami game, to battle back (from) 17-0, his big touchdown catch really sparked the comeback. The critical first down he got for us in the Jets game. Andy (Dalton) threw the ball up there, one-on-one matchup. Catches, goes down, and we’re taking knees to end the game. He’s a come-through guy that we love and we trust. I just want him to do it all the time so he can realize the highest of his potential. He wants that. We want that for him, too, and I’m excited to see what he does this year."
Legette appeared in 15 games for the Panthers last season. He finished with 35 receptions for 363 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns.
The Panthers selected Legette with the 32nd overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The WR had 49 catches during his rookie season for 497 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns.
For Carolina to take the next step offensively, Legette has to have a strong campaign. The 25-year-old has been in trade rumors since the 2025 season ended, but most people who cover the NFL believe the Panthers will bring Legette back.
Legette and the Panthers made the playoffs last season, losing to the Los Angeles Rams in the wild-card round. It will be fascinating to see if Carolina can make the playoffs again next season and win a postseason game for the first time in the post-Cam Newton era.
"You’ve gotta invite it and understand that people know that we’re a good team, and they have to play at their best," Canales said. "That’s the kind of respect that we want, and that’s gonna bring out the best in us. To know that opponents are gonna show up not feeling like, let’s circle the Panthers on the schedule. But that it’s like, all right, we got the Panthers, and it’s just part of a normal conversation. Just the normal respect of playing good football."
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