Bryce Young loves what he’s seeing from Xavier Legette, and one other receiver
There was a Bryce Young-Xavier Legette connection that shouldn’t be overlooked on Tuesday.
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It was simple, yes. Not exactly a highlight. But it illustrated something interesting.
Young, the Carolina Panthers quarterback beginning his fourth mandatory minicamp in Charlotte, took a snap out of the shotgun. He bought time in a collapsing pocket. And then, leaning right, he fired a 15-yard pass to a streaking-across-the-field Legette. He was wide open. So open, in fact, that defensive backs pointed at each other in confusion after the play was over, wondering what went wrong.
It was the kind of pass-and-catch that has happened a few times this offseason between Young and Legette, the third-year wide receiver who has been and will continue to be under the microscope.
And if you ask anyone on the Carolina Panthers, they’ll tell you that these sorts of plays between Young and Legette are no coincidence. That they’re a product of Legette’s growing football IQ, his growing comfort in the system.
Let Young say it himself.
“You see that extra command,” Young said of Legette after the minicamp workout on Tuesday. “He’s one of the vets in the receiver room. He’s getting guys lined up. You see the rookies come in, asking him, ‘Where am I on this?’ And him having ownership. I call a route, and it’s automatic: I know exactly my split, I know the detail.”
Young continued: “We can have a next-level conversation. … ‘Hey if we get quarters on this route, should I keep this high or coming flat?’ Or, ‘Hey I see a place for me to sit.’ Stuff like that. So he’s a really smart player. And I think just him having more time in the system, you see the confidence coming out to play. You see him talking with DBs, you see his personality on the field, which is huge for us.”
To say the connection between Young and Legette has been “strong” through the first two NFL seasons might be a bit of an overstatement. Legette had a solid rookie season in 2024 after the Panthers traded up to select him in the first round of that year’s draft. That first season was one that featured 49 receptions for 497 yards and four touchdowns, yes, but a bulk of that production also came with backup quarterback Andy Dalton at the helm.
In 2025, Legette regressed statistically. Part of that was a product of the Panthers’ decision to select another wide receiver in the draft — this time Offensive Rookie of the Year Tetairoa McMillan. McMillan was immediately the focal point of the team’s passing offense, and Legette struggled to get opportunities even as the passing offense started to ascend down the stretch of last season.
But the Young-Legette connection, while subtle, seems to be taking some strides this spring summer. And on a day like Tuesday — with McMillan taking part in individual drills but not in team scrimmages — Legette was one of a myriad receivers to step up. He’s been doing it all offseason.
Dave Canales has noticed it, too.
“He just knows how to do everything — I’m talking about Xavier,” Canales said. “And just he understands our scheme on third down, when we’re in the red zone — there’s all these different nuances to the routes and adjustments, and he knows all of that stuff. He’s having such a great spring.”
The Legette-Young connection even extended off the field. Videos on Instagram over the weekend showed Young and other offensive teammates visit Legette’s tiny South Carolina hometown of Mullins, riding four-wheelers and horses and having fun. That left quite the impression on the Panthers’ quarterback, too.
“I was able to be around his family, people who grew up with him,” Young said. “It was a really cool community. It was cool seeing how revered he is, how much he’s affected (the area). … While X is away, people were coming up to me, like, ‘It’s been so different. The city’s been different. He’s come back and done all these things for the city. We all have hope because of all the things he’s come back and done.’”
Young continued: “It didn’t surprise me at all just to see all the love that was out there.”
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To say Legette stole the show on Tuesday wouldn’t exactly be right. With McMillan out during 11-on-11 work, many receivers stepped up.
In fact, the first name Canales said after practice about who is stepping up in McMillan’s stead?
Veteran David Moore.
“Well, we can always count on D-Mo,” Canales said of Moore, who was on the receiving end of several splash plays on Tuesday. “David Moore is a guy I’ve known for a long time — 2017 draft class in Seattle, seventh-round pick. So we go way back. Got a lot of trust in DMo to do really — he can play all positions. He’s stepped in well, and of course, Chris Brazzell has been taking reps at X as well. He’s made some plays over the last couple of weeks, so really excited about where he’s heading with his development.”
The appreciation goes both ways with Moore and Canales. Moore, now 31 years old, told The Charlotte Observer last summer that Canales is the only coach he’d like to play for at this point in his career.
And even though Moore missed a huge portion of last year due to an elbow injury, his presence was known and important — particularly as a veteran voice within this young receiving corps. The ages of some other Panthers receivers: McMillan (23), Coker (24), Legette (25) and Jimmy Horn Jr. (23).
Moore has been making play after play during the offseason program to date, and that didn’t end Tuesday. And while Canales said that such should be expected of the veteran players — they know the system, after all — it shouldn’t discount the work they’re putting in.
Young agrees.
“He has so much experience, so much wisdom,” Young said. “Whenever we’re talking about stuff, you know D-Mo’s ran it. Even if it’s something new for us, it’s something he’s done before. He’s always going to have his perspective. … And then on a day-to-day, he just brings great energy.
“Everyone will tell you he’s a joy to be around. He’s hilarious. He always keeps the vibes high in that receiver room. And when you have a vet for that room like that, who’s knowledgeable, who knows exactly what to do, you can go to him and ask about details of a route. It’s never in a preachy; it’s a way that he’s cool with everyone in the locker room. It’s always good to have that.”
— Defensive lineman Lee Hunter wasn’t on the practice field Tuesday. Canales cited a “personal” reason for his absence.
— Pass rusher Thomas Incoom also didn’t practice Tuesday; Canales said that he underwent a procedure — he didn’t disclose what the surgery was for — and that Incoom is trending to be ready by training camp in late July.
— Pass rushers Jaelan Phillips and Pat Jones returned to the field after “vet days” last week during an OTA session in which media were present. DL Jared Harrison-Hunte, ILB Bam Martin-Scott and ILB Trevin Wallace each wore red no-contact jerseys Tuesday.
— An eye-popping quote after practice, courtesy of newly signed high-profile pass rusher Jaelan Phillips: “Chuba (Hubbard) is positioning himself as the foremost leader of the team.” High praise for the veteran running back.
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