Wide receiver Xavier Legette was a first-round draft pick just a year and a half ago. But before the end of his second season, he could be on the move.
That’s what Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox argued this week when he included 10 players on his NFL trade block big board entering Week 3. Legette was one of three receivers on the list.
Knox named the Pittsburgh Steelers one of two potential trade suitors for the 24-year-old wideout.
“While Legette’s tape isn’t great, he’s still a physically gifted 6’3″, 227-pound pass-catcher who was highly regarded entering the 2024 draft—he was the 71st-ranked prospect on the B/R Scouting Department’s,” wrote Knox.
“Adding Legette would be a risk-reward move that could make a lot of sense for teams with questionable receiver depth. A third-round pick that could become a second based on statistical production would be a fair asking price for Carolina.”
Legette posted 49 catches for 497 receiving yards and four touchdowns as a rookie last season. In the first two games of 2025, he has four catches for eight yards. Legette also has a carry for zero yards this season.
The Panthers drafted the wideout at No. 32 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Why Carolina Panthers Could Trade WR Xavier Legette
Although he’s only in his second season, Legette is on track to be a first-round bust. The Panthers have also essentially already replaced the young wideout with a higher-regarded, younger option in Tetairoa McMillan.
Carolina drafted McMillan at No. 8 overall in 2025. Through two games this season, McMillan leads the Panthers in receptions and receiving yards. In fact, the rookie’s 168 receiving yards are twice as many as any other Carolina pass catcher this year.
Meanwhile, Legette has been unable to deliver statistically although he’s received nearly as many targets as McMillan. Despite 15 targets, which is tied for second for Carolina, Legette is ninth among all Panthers pass catchers in receiving yards.
Unable to build a relationship with quarterback Bryce Young, the Panthers could see Legette as more valuable on the trade market before the end of the season.
“Legette had his fair share of rookie struggles, but they weren’t particularly alarming. Plenty of first-year receivers have experienced growing pains, and Carolina’s offense wasn’t particularly good for most of the year. However, Legette has looked even worse through the first two weeks of his sophomore campaign,” wrote Knox.
Legette a Fit for the Pittsburgh Steelers?
With Legette struggling, it’s worth wondering if he will have any value on the trade market. While NFL teams will likely be interested because of his age and affordable contract, it would have to be for the right price, and a conditional third-round pick might be too expensive.
Assuming the price is right, the Steelers could be a potential suitor for Legette because of their need at receiver. Pittsburgh acquired DK Metcalf in March but then traded George Pickens in May.
As a result, Calvin Austin III has remained a starting receiver for the Steelers. The team had high hopes for 2024 third-rounder Roman Wilson before the regular season began. But through two games, Wilson has one catch for seven yards.
If the Steelers are contending this fall, it wouldn’t be surprising if they pursue potential receiver trades. General manager Omar Khan did that last season, acquiring veteran wideout Mike Williams.
It’s worth mentioning, though, that at the time of the Williams trade, the team was in first place with an 8-3 record. It’s early, but the Steelers have a lot of corrections to make to become a legitimate 2025 AFC contender in a month and a half.
The 2025 NFL trade deadline is set for Nov. 4.
Steelers Named Potential Suitor for Former 1st-Round WR