xavier legette
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Xavier Legette #17 of the Carolina Panthers.
The Carolina Panthers had a disappointing start to the 2025 season. This offseason, there were heightened expectations after a promising end to 2024, but the team delivered a performance that failed to inspire confidence. One player in particular who had a rough outing was second-year wide receiver Xavier Legette.
In the Panthers’ 26-10 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Legette had three receptions for 10 yards and averaged only 3.3 yards per catch.
Legette was the Panthers’ first-round pick in the draft last season, and he is coming offan underwhelming rookie campaign. The former University of South Carolina receiver had 49 receptions for 497 yards and four touchdowns in 16 games played in 2024.
In the game against the Jaguars, Legette was involved in two potential game changing plays. One was on Bryce Young’s first interception, which targeted Legette, and the other play was Legette not getting his toe tap down on what would have been a big play down the sideline.
Post-game in the locker room,Legette took accountability for not making a play there.
“Anytime the ball is in the air, those plays have tobe made,” Legette said. “And I just have to do better, realizing where I’m at on the field, dragging my foot.”
The Panthers need Legette to step up with a thin wide receiver unit.
Stepping Up With a Depleted Unit
The Panthers have lost a lot of depth at wide receiver from where they were at the beginning of training camp until now. Until a few weeks ago, the top wide receivers included eight overall pick Tetairoa McMillan, veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen, Xavier Legette, and Jalen Coker, making up the top four receivers.
Now, after the trade of Thielen and Cokerbeing placed on IR, the Panthers’ receiving unit is depleted, and Hunter Renfrow is the only receiver on the roster who has put up over 500 yards receiving in a season. Renfrow was playing in his first game after missing the entire 2024 season.
The Panthers are relying on Legette to take more of a leap in his second year and help to carry a young and unproven receiving room.
Kole Noble ofA to Z Sports wrote in his September 8 article about how Panthers head coach Dave Canales stuck up for his young receivers after the team’s loss to the Jaguars.
“I’m excited for this group that we have. I’m excited for what I saw,” Canales explained. “For the couple of drives that we put together, to see the guys win and get open and make their plays. But, we got to make all the ones that we’re supposed to make. That’s the sign of consistency, that’s a sign of maturity to continue to grow and make plays those plays. We’re counting on them to do that and we’ll keep giving them [opportunities].”
Canales has faith in Legette, but he’ll need to put together better performances in his upcoming games to catch up to the other wide receivers in the 2024 draft class.
Falling Behind 2024 WRs
As a first-round pick, Xavier Legette willbe judged by the receivers drafted around the numberhe was picked and the ones drafted immediately after him.
In the 2024 draft, the receivers picked ahead of Legette were Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, Rome Odunze, Brian Thomas Jr., Xavier Worthy, and Ricky Pearsall. Picked immediately after Legette in the second round were Keon Coleman and Ladd McConkey.
The only player out of that list who finished with a worse statistical season than Legette was Pearsall. Missing part of last season after being shot. Still, Pearsall, in 11 games, had only 97 fewer yards and one touchdown fewer than Legette.
In May, during OTAs, Kassidy Hill ofPanthers.com wrote an article on Legette entering his second year, and focusing on improving on his rookie season.
“I’m feeling pretty good. I feel like I’m trending in the right direction,” Legette said. “My body feeling great. I just want to make this year better than last year. That’s my mind focus.”
Legette may have some ground to make up to catch the other receivers in his draft class. However, the season has only just begun. Legette will be a big part of the Panthers’ offense moving forward this year.