Panthers rookie WR Xavier Legette must put his drops behind him

Ball security has become a concern for Panthers WR Xavier Legette. But it’s not a damning trait, at least not yet, for the talented rookie.

The NFL’s “rookie wall” moves for almost no player—even the 6-foot-3, 227-pound ones.

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette has hit a slump. After a relatively solid start to the season, in which he reeled in a team-leading four touchdown catches before the Week 11 bye, the 2024 first-round pick has stalled over the last handful of games.

He’s been charged with one drop in each of his past four outings, with his most damaging coming in this past Sunday’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Legette, with the Panthers down by six points with under a minute remaining in the game, dropped a would-be 32-yard touchdown reception after beating veteran cornerback Darius Slay on a fine route.

The drop prevented Carolina from tying the contest and eventually helped lead to their 22-16 defeat.

There have also been some missed opportunities in the last few weeks like this one . . .

And like this one . . .

He’s also had trouble with completing impressive catches in traffic, failing to secure the rock after taking on contact. For a receiver who was known for his high-level ball skills in college, the drops have become a concern.

Some fans are starting to bunch Legette in with the likes of Kelvin Benjamin, Devin Funchess and Jonathan Mingo, and have even floated around the “bust” label. And while he may not be living up to first-round expectations just yet, it’s far too early to write this exciting athlete off.

Take the emotion out away and look at his progression as a player from college to the NFL. He has improved greatly as a route runner, as he’s starting to win more with short-area quickness and utilizing his physical prowess at the top of his routes.

This is a talented player–one who will be effective as a high-end No. 2 wide receiver in the X or the Z  role within the offense. The Panthers and quarterback Bryce Young will need to rely on him when it matters the most—and lately, he has not been able to answer due to these drops.

It’s unlikely he gets benched, and that probably son’t cure him of these issues. More often than not, it’s up to the player himself to put in the work and improve his hands.

How Legette performs in these last four games won’t decide his future, but will more offer perspective for what he must improve on ahead of his sophomore campaign. The Panthers drafted him in the first round for a reason and they believe in his talent. He must improve his catching technique and consistency, which are the biggest issues for him at the moment.

If Legette takes a step here, Young can begin to lean on him more as a viable target in any situation—even ones that can decide the fate of a game.

[lawrence-related id=708282,708241,708186]