As the Carolina Panthers begin to prepare for the 2026 NFL season, the reigning NFC South Champions will look to build off of its recent success this offseason.

While the Panthers were able to acquire multiple talented players throughout the course of free agency and the most recent NFL Draft, the organization still has many question marks heading into the upcoming season, especially at the wide receiver position.

In a recent article regarding the top 10 NFL players with the most at stake heading into the 2026 season, Pro Football Focus writer Bradley Locker listed Panthers’ 2024 first-round pick, Xavier Legette, as one of the players part of the mix for next season.

“Considered an uber athletic receiver who could play above the rim, Legette has looked languid so far at the next level,” Locker wrote. “With the Panthers selecting Tennessee’s Chris Brazzell II in the third round as well as seeing youngsters Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker establishing themselves, Legette’s time as an entrenched starter is running out. In fact, it wouldn’t be a total shock to see him dealt sooner than later if he doesn’t start picking up the pace.”

Legette, a once-highly touted wide receiver prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft class, was an exceptional playmaker throughout his time in college with the South Carolina Gamecocks. His terrific blend of size and ability to create yards after the catch led to the Panthers trading up one pick into the first round in order to secure him for quarterback Bryce Young.

However, Legette’s unique skill set would not translate to the NFL level, as the former SEC standout would record 497 receiving yards and four touchdowns on 49 receptions during his rookie season. To make matters worse, Panthers’ 2024 UDFA signee, Jalen Coker, finished with 19 fewer receiving yards as a rookie, despite playing in 11 games.

The lackluster debut season for Legette in Carolina forced the organization to use its first-round pick in the following draft on another wide receiver in Tetairoa McMillan, which led to a decreased role on offense for the 25-year-old pass catcher last year. Legette would end his second NFL season with 363 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 35 receptions, while also recording just one reception for eight yards in the Panthers’ NFC Playoff matchup against the Los Angeles Rams.

Now, with general manager Dan Morgan selecting Tennessee wide receiver Chris Brazzell II in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, it’s clear that Legette will be entering a “make-or-break” year in 2026.

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