May 30, 2026, 9:01 a.m. ET
A lot of NFL wide receivers don’t really break through until their third year as a pro. The Carolina Panthers‘ former first-round pick Xavier Legette better hope that’s the case for himself—otherwise, his future in the league will likely be very short.
Heading into Year 3, Legette is easily the most disappointing player on Carolina’s roster. The ultra-athletic pass catcher hasn’t lived up to his billing, having reeled in just 84 passes for 860 yards and seven scores over his first two campaigns.
So, it might be no surprise that Legette—according to Pro Football Focus—is one of 10 players with the most at stake here in 2026. PFF contributor Bradley Locker writes:
“Legette snuck into the first round after landing with the upstart Panthers. While Carolina has progressed since that point, Legette has not… Considered an uber athletic receiver who could play above the rim, Legette has looked languid so far at the next level… 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.”
Had Legette hit the ground running as a rookie, he would probably be Carolina’s No. 1 target at this point. But unfortunately, he did not (and still has not) found his footing in the league.
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Legette immediately lost his role as the team’s top receiver when the Panthers selected Tetairoa McMillan with the eighth overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft. He’s also fallen behind Jalen Coker, an undrafted signee from his own rookie class.
With 2026 third-rounder Chris Brazzell II and free-agent addition John Metchie III coming in, Legette is now in danger of falling to fourth or even fifth in the pecking order. That would translate to a dramatic reduction in snaps and targets—as we saw at the end of last season.
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