Who Should I Start? Xavier Legette or Jalen Coker

Thursday, February 19, 1:26 PM

A first-round pick in 2024, Carolina wide receiver Xavier Legette has yet to top 500 receiving yards or four touchdowns in either of his professional seasons. While he has shown the occasional flash, he looks to be heading in the wrong direction on the Panthers ' depth chart heading into 2026. Offensive Rookie of the Year Tetairoa McMillan led the team in almost all statistical categories in 2025, while Jalen Coker has been prioritized over Legette whenever he's healthy. With Coker seeing career highs in targets, receptions, and yards in Carolina's Wild Card playoff loss, and the Panthers regularly tied to the position in a wide receiver-heavy draft, Legette's value continues to slide. Quarterback Bryce Young has yet to hit 3,300 yards or 25 passing touchdowns through his first three seasons, making a meaningful fantasy impact nearly impossible for any receiver that dips too far from the top of the depth chart.

Friday, January 30, 12:43 PM

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said that wide receiver Jalen Coker will enter the offseason as the team's No. 2 wideout behind 2025 first-rounder Tetairoa McMillan, according to David Newton of ESPN. Newton also writes that the Panthers' top offseason priority is locking Coker down long term. He's an exclusive-rights free agent, so the team could tender him an offer for the league minimum to ensure that he's around in 2026 at a low cost. The 24-year-old came on strong late in 2025 and had nine catches for 134 yards and one touchdown in the Wild-Card loss to the Los Angeles Rams. If the Panthers truly believe in Coker, they could look to lock him up long-term at a reasonable price. Injuries have limited Coker to 22 regular-season games in his first two years in the NFL, but when on the field, he's been productive, catching 65 passes for 872 yards and five touchdowns on 89 targets. If he can finally stay healthy in Year 3, Coker has true breakout potential.