The Carolina Panthers should part ways with Xavier Legette before the 2026 NFL season.
The Carolina Panthers have been urged to consider trading Xavier Legette before the 2026 season by NFL analyst Moe Moton of Bleacher Report.
The Panthers have drafted a WR two years in a row since taking Legette with the last pick of the first round in 2024, making the WR room crowded.
In 2025, Carolina took Tetairoa McMillan, and in this year's draft, the Panthers selected Chris Brazzell.
"Regardless, in a low-volume passing attack, Legette is unlikely to see significant growth behind McMillan," Moton wrote. "The Panthers may be able to find a trade partner for Legette because of the wideout's draft pedigree, though the compensation won't be much because the wideout has fallen short of expectations, hauling in 84 receptions for 860 yards and seven touchdowns."
Legette appeared in 15 games for the Panthers last season. He finished with only 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, totaling 497 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns.
It will be fascinating to see how Legette performs next season. He's certainly under pressure to play well if he remains in Carolina. Legette may be better suited to play for a team in need of WR help so he can get more targets. It's clear that McMillan is the No. 1 guy in Carolina.
It's worth mentioning that in March, Panthers head coach Dave Canales revealed details about Legette's offseason training and stated that the WR was going hard. Canales is believed to be one of the few members of the Panthers who still believes in Legette.
"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."
The Philadelphia Eagles traded A.J. Brown to the New England Patriots and the Cleveland Browns sent Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams. Trade season is officially open, so we could see the Panthers move Legette soon.
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