The Carolina Panthers aren’t giving up on wide receiver Xavier Legette, and they’re not down on him even after a horrendous start to the season. Though the Chargers intended for Legette to be their No. 1 receiver. Even so, his play over the first two games of this young season has been heavily criticized. With a catch percentage of just 26.7%, well below his anticipated rate of 60.8%, he has recorded only four receptions on 15 targets.
Legette’s combined statistics so far illustrate a story that is even more dramatic than the pressure placed on his shoulders would suggest. Yet so far, he’s only accumulated eight receiving yards. This puts him at the very bottom of the players with at least 15 targets on the season so far. Legette makes history as the only player in this category to not have a first down reception. This underlines how hard it’s been for him to make truly game-changing plays.
The Panthers invested significantly in Legette, trading their top pick in Round 2 and a fifth-rounder to the Buffalo Bills to move up one spot in the draft. This concerted effort was done with the intention that he’d become a larger, more dynamic offensive threat. During his time in college, Legette showed the world just how talented he was. During his senior campaign, he recorded 71 receptions for 1,255 yards and seven touchdowns. His transition to the NFL has not played out smoothly.
During his rookie campaign, Legette had an abysmal 14.0% drop rate. This placed him as the third most efficient player on a per-target basis among all players that saw 75 or more targets. Unfortunately, this trend has continued into the new season. In one game, he caught just one of his eight targets for a whopping total of minus-2 yards. By putting up that kind of performance, he became the first receiver in NFL history to end a game with negative yards on that many targets. It’s a remarkable, though sad, accomplishment!
Despite these disappointments, both Legette and his teammates are optimistic about his future. “I know one of my best games is around the corner,” Legette stated, expressing his belief that improvement is imminent. And when it pops, it’s gonna pop, and you’ll know that I’m back,” signaling a level of confidence that there’s a turnaround in his future.
Young and Legette so far have not fully translated their encouraging practice outings into game excellence just yet. You can see their potential. The team is optimistic that with time and continued effort, they will find their rhythm and leverage Legette’s potential effectively.
As the Panthers look ahead to upcoming games, they remain committed to helping Legette adjust and succeed in his role. The coaching staff is likely to focus on targeting him more effectively to maximize his skill set and rebuild confidence.
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