Who Should I Start? Rashod Bateman or Xavier Legette

Tuesday, June 16, 8:05 AM

It didn't look good for wide receiver Xavier Legette when the Carolina Panthers drafted University of Tennessee wideout Chris Brazzell II in the third round this year. However, teammates and coaches have indicated that Legette "might be figuring out some things" after he struggled with drops and other "mishaps" in his first two seasons, according to Joseph Person of The Athletic. Quarterback Bryce Young has also said he's having "next-level conversations" with Legette about routes, play concepts, and coverages. "From the minute he's gotten here, he's 100 miles an hour," head coach Dave Canales said. "He's putting in the time in the playbook. He's busting his butt on the field, working on little technical skills." The 25-year-old former first-rounder in 2024 out of the University of South Carolina lost around eight pounds in the offseason and worked to "bulletproof" his hamstring. It sounds like he knows he's a player who is running out of chances. It remains to be seen if Legette's hard work will pay off, but there's no guarantee he'll return to WR2 duties in 2026 while he battles for targets with Brazzell and Jalen Coker. In 12-team leagues, Legette will go undrafted this fall.