The Carolina Panthers are being predicted to fix a mistake they made with Xavier Legette.
Is it too early to call Carolina Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette a bust? Probably, but there is no question that Legette has been a massive disappointment thus far.
The Panthers selected Legette in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, banking on his tremendous blend of size, speed and athleticism. However, he has struggled mightily over his first couple of seasons, and a legitimate argument can even be made that he has taken a step back in 2025.
As a result, Max Chadwick of Pro Football Focus is expecting Carolina to triple down on the wide receiver position in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft (remember: the Panthers took Tetairoa McMillan on Day 1 last year), predicting the squad to select USC's Makai Lemon.
"The Panthers continue to build around Bryce Young, pairing last year’s top X-receiver Tetairoa McMillan with the best slot receiver in the class, Makai Lemon," Chadwick wrote. "The Biletnikoff Award winner leads all FBS wideouts with a 90.7 PFF grade and paces the Power Four with 1,156 receiving yards."
Lemon led the Big Ten with 1,156 receiving yards this season, hauling in 79 receptions and scoring 11 touchdowns through the air. He also punched in a pair of rushing touchdowns.
USC Trojans receiver Makai Lemon. Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images.The 5-foot-11 dynamo would comprise a perfect fit alongside of McMillan, who has already established himself as one of the best young receivers in football.
Of course, whether or not Carolina will continue building around Young in particular this offseason remains to be seen, as Young's future may very well be dictated by how he plays in the closing stretch of the regular season.
The Panthers will have this spring to determine whether or not they want to exercise the fifth-year option on Young's rookie contract, and at this point, that's entirely up in the air.
That being said, if wouldn't hurt for Carolina to add some more weapons anyway, especially considering it looks like Legette may not work out like the team hoped.
The Panthers have been one of the NFL's biggest surprises this year, as they sit at 7-7 and will have a chance to grab first place in the NFC South when they take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this Sunday.