The NFL offseason is officially upon us, and that means 31 teams are looking for ways to improve so they can be the last ones standing one year from now. One of this season’s playoff teams that still has a long way to go is the Carolina Panthers. Despite winning their division, they only had an 8-9 record this season and showed they were not ready to compete for a Super Bowl.
This offseason is a massive one for the Panthers and especially their wide receivers. They need to find a way to be more explosive on offense, and one player who could be ready to break out is Xavier Legette. The former first-round pick has not done much in his first two NFL seasons, but one NFL legend thinks he is due for a breakout in 2026.
Chad Johnson Plans to Unlock ‘Special’ Talent in Xavier Legette This Offseason
Legette has been one of the most underwhelming receivers in football over the past two seasons. He has a combined 84 receptions for 860 yards and seven touchdowns in his career, and has yet to make the significant impact many hoped for him.
According to PFSN, Legette had a PFSN NFL WR Impact Score of 64.6 this season, which was 100th in the NFL. However, NFL legend Chad Johnson believes Legette is “special.”
According to an X post by Sheena Quick, Johnson said, “He’s special. He just needs someone to unlock the ‘special’ that I can see from far away.”
He continued, “I want them to go into this offseason thinking how can I make everyone’s job around me easier.” Johnson mentioned that he will be working with Legette this offseason in hopes of helping him unlock some things as a receiver.
There is no question that Johnson will have his work cut out for him working with Legette, simply because Legette has not shown the ability to be a difference-maker. However, he is still only 25 years old, and players at that age can still improve.
Panthers Need Legette to Step Up Alongside Rookie Tetairoa McMillan
It was clear the Panthers lost some faith in Legette heading into the 2025 season, which is why they selected Tetairoa McMillan in the first round of the past draft. However, the Panthers are hoping for the best in Legette’s development, as he will only add to their firepower if he reaches his full potential.
Quarterback Bryce Young showed great improvement from year one to year two, and the Panthers’ only goal on offense should be to continue to support him. If Legette can unlock something this offseason, it would be great news for the Panthers’ offense and their outlook for the 2026 season.
