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Xavier Legette could be a potential trade candidate.
The Carolina Panthers truly failed to set the world on fire during the 2025 regular season. In the end, they finished with eight wins and nine losses, yet still advanced to the playoffs as the winners of the NFC South, where they fell short 34-31 in a thriller against the Los Angeles Rams.
The leap the team has made under head coach Dave Canales over the last two seasons is undeniable for anyone who followed the Matt Rhule/Frank Reich era. Still, the big black cats from North Carolina seem to be missing that final bit of roster quality to be able to compete at the top again.
To change that, the Panthers could make a big decision in the 2026 offseason, because wide receiver Xavier Legette could be on the list of potential trade candidates for general manager Dan Morgan after just two seasons.
Legette Fell Short of Expectations
GettyLegette recorded just 35 receptions for 363 yards and three touchdowns in the 2025 regular season.
At least that’s what ESPN senior NFL writer Barnwell Bill assumes in his January 22 article.
Since Legette was selected in the first round with the 32nd overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, he has struggled to find his place on the team. This is especially true after the Panthers drafted exceptional talent wide receiver Tetaiora McMillan in 2025.
Barnwell writes, “The Panthers still have a spot for Legette in the lineup when they play three-wide sets… And there’s no reason why GM Dan Morgan would keep that spot open if the Panthers can find an upgrade this offseason.”
Finding an upgrade shouldn’t be too difficult. Legette recorded just 35 receptions for 363 yards and three touchdowns in the 2025 regular season. Just for comparison: McMillan recorded 70 receptions for 1,014 yards in his rookie season. In addition, he found the end zone seven times for six points each.
The Athletic’s Joseph Person takes a different view in a recent “Panthers mailbag.” He believes that Xavier Legette will remain on the Carolina Panthers’ roster heading into the 2026 season. He also mentioned that head coach Dave Canales didn’t seem ready to give up on Legette after the season ended.
Legette Has Fallen Behind Jalen Coker
GettyJalen Coker signed with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent on May 10, 2024.
Another wide receiver has won the hearts of fans this season: Jalen Coker. Coker, like McMillan, has also established himself as a top target.
He played in 11 games and, despite fewer receptions (33), recorded more receiving yards than Legette (394). The former undrafted free agent also broke out for 134 yards and a score in Carolina’s wild-card round loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
And let’s not forget: Carolina was willing to give up on wide receiver Jonathan Mingo, a top-40 pick, in November 2024 after only 24 games when the right trade offer emerged.
Fans on X (formerly known as Twitter) are already posting who they would like to see in Charlotte in exchange for the wide receiver:
Xavier Legette for Alex Highsmith
who says no?
Another fan wrote: “Panthers and Bills just need to swap Xavier Legette and Keon Coleman at this point.”
For those who might have forgotten: The Buffalo Bills traded down twice in the 2024 draft before taking Coleman. The second trade was with the Panthers, who moved up to No. 32 to select Legette. Like Coleman, Legette was a one-year college sensation with impressive size and athleticism, but he has failed to live up to expectations.
Besides exploring a potential trade, the Carolina Panthers could also use the upcoming NFL Draft in Pittsburgh (April 23–25) to select a new wide receiver to bolster their receiving corps. As things stand, the Carolina Panthers would pick at position 19.
Whether the Panthers trade the receiver or keep him, the team’s next moves will define the roster’s ceiling for 2026.
Fabienne Lampe Fabienne Lampe is a German sports journalist, covering the NFL, College Football, NBA, and Formula 1 for Heavy Sports. Lampe has years of experience covering the NFL, especially the Atlanta Falcons as their sole German reporter. She has interviewed some of the biggest names in the NFL, including Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson. Lampe also hosts a Formula 1 podcast and works as a play-by-play announcer. More about Fabienne Lampe
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