The Carolina Panthers might need to replace Xavier Legette.
The Carolina Panthers have used first-round draft picks on wide receivers each of the last two years, nabbing Xavier Legette and Tetairoa McMillan, respectively.
While McMillan enjoyed a tremendous debut campaign in 2025, winning the Offensive Rookie of the Year award, Legette has not experienced the same type of success.
The University of South Carolina product has struggled mightily over his first two seasons, so much so that the Panthers may look to bump him for another receiver.
McMillan and Jalen Coker are Carolina's top two wide outs right now, and while Legette is currently the No. 3, that could change.
The Panthers seem likely to select another receiver at some point in the NFL Draft next month, but they could also address their receiving corps by adding a veteran.
One name that comes to mind? Deebo Samuel.
Samuel is one of the biggest names still available in free agency and is coming off of a productive 2025 season with the Washington Commanders in which he caught 72 passes for 727 yards and five touchdowns.
Deebo Samuel. Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.It wasn't exactly prime Samuel from his earlier San Francisco 49ers days, but it was still solid, especially with his impressive 72.7 percent catch rate.
Bryce Young could certainly use a reliable, versatile target like Samuel, who can line up in the slot, move to the outside and also set up in the backfield.
Now, the tricky part here would be the salary cap, as the Panthers have just a tick over $17 million in cap room remaining after their free agency moves.
Samuel shouldn't be too expensive, but Carolina definitely needs to leave some cap space for draft picks and midseason additions, so it needs to tread carefully.
But if the Panthers can find a way to squeeze in Samuel, who made a Pro Bowl while also earning a First-Team All-Pro selection back in 2021, it would represent a major boon for Young and the offense.
Is Samuel a necessity for Carolina? No. Again, the Panthers can always just take a wide receiver in the draft, and there are plenty of them. But the 30-year-old would bring a much-needed veteran presence, and he's already proven.
The addition of Samuel would also move Legette down to fourth on the depth chart, which might be needed at this point.
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