Predicting the Carolina Panthers Wide Receiver Room
The Panthers have competition in the WR room for the first time in years. Which players will make it out of training camp onto the 53-man roster?
One of the biggest weaknesses of the Carolina Panthers rosters over the last half decade has been the team’s casts of receivers.
This group hasn’t really been a strength since the 2020 season, a year marred by empty stadiums due to COVID-19, Carolina turning over their coaching staff, and new Panthers QB Teddy Bridgewater throwing for a then career-high 15 touchdowns.
That season, Bridgewater benefitted from DJ Moore and Robbie Chosen (formerly Anderson) both adding 1000+ receiving yards, as well as Curtis Samuel and Mike Davis combining for over 1000 scrimmage yards.
Star running back Christian McCaffrey appeared in three contests as well, adding 149 receiving yards.
Since that season, Carolina has had receiving rooms consisting of players that failed to stand out in a big way. However, there are two exceptions to note.
DJ Moore prior to being traded to Chicago had one year after 2020 where he added 1000+ yards. Adam Thielen also hauled in over 1000 yards in 2023.
The trend of few and far between impactful receivers ended last season with the selection of Tetairoa McMillan. TMac not only set the record for receiving yards in Carolina history, but also brought home the Offensive Rookie of the Year award.
It’s safe to say the Panthers have their WR1 of the present and future. Alongside McMillan, Jalen Coker had a breakout game in the playoffs, hauling in nine catches for 134 yards and a score. Former first-round pick Xavier Legette also has potential waiting to be unlocked.
Now that training camp is approaching, I thought it would be a good idea to look at the wide receiver room and try to guess which players will make the 53-man roster come September.
Last season, Carolina kept seven receivers following the final roster cut. Throughout the season, however, the team would eventually carry only six. The images below are courtesy of ourlads, a great online tool for NFL roster-viewing.
Considering Carolina kept seven receivers after last year’s cuts, I will be doing the same in this exercise. Currently, there are twelve wide receivers on the Panthers summer roster:
Let’s take a look at which receivers can possibly make it to Week 1.
No-Brainers
This group consists of the receivers that have basically no chance of not being on the 2026 Carolina Panthers.
Tetairoa McMillan: the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year winner will be a part of this team for the foreseeable future. Last season, McMillan set the Panthers rookie receiving record with 1014 yards, along with seven touchdowns.
McMillan’s unique skillset should continue to have him receive WR1 targets for years to come.
Jalen Coker: Opposite of McMillan is Jalen Coker, who had a huge breakout game in Carolina’s home playoff appearance. Coker has had trouble staying on the field consistently throughout the season, but has a special connection with Bryce Young when healthy.
Coker has the opportunity to play himself into a lucrative extension as a former undrafted free agent. Compared to some of the other WR contracts being handed out, Coker can make a huge impact for himself with a healthy 2026 season.
Chris Brazzell II: To the shock of some evaluators, Carolina forwent adding a receiver in Round 1 of the 2026 Draft, instead focusing on the trenches. In Round 3, however, the Panthers draft Chris Brazzell II out of Tennessee.
Brazzell is a unique blend of size and speed (6’5, 4.37 40) that also produced over 1000 yards in his final season at Tennessee.
While there are usually questions about how Tennessee receivers can translate to NFL schemes, there is no doubt that Brazzell will be a part of the Panthers plans in 2026.
Likely Keepers
It’s definitely likely, but not 100% a certainty that this tier of receivers will be on the squad for Week 1.
Xavier Legette: I’m pretty close to certain that Legette will be on the team for the majority of 2026, but he isn’t as clear-cut as the receivers list above.
Legette was selected in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, and has since failed to make a significant impact. His athletic traits are special, but sometimes the fundamentals can be lacking.
This is a huge year for Legette (and the rest of the 2024 draft class). If anyone can get the most of of receivers, it’s the Panthers coaching staff - a group littered with experience coaching receivers.
Brycen Tremayne: The primary blocking receiver in 2025, Tremayne was indispensable to the Panthers offense. While he may not have the receiving upside as the WRs listed above, Tremayne has a skillset that this offense needs.
Tremayne’s targets last season were few and far between (14 receptions on 18 targets). However, he fits the mold of receiver that this team likes, and will likely be a huge factor as a blocker once again in 2026.
Fringe-In
After the first five receivers, the spots become much more contested. These receivers have to bring something to the table that the remaining group doesn’t.
John Metchie III: Carolina’s lone outside free agent acquisition at the position, Metchie has a decent chance of making the final 53.
As you may know, Metchie was one of Bryce Young’s only viable receiving targets during his time at Alabama. The familiarity between the two can’t be overlooked.
Metchie operates more as a safety net that can create underneath, which is a sneaky need that most of the above receiving corps lacks.
Jimmy Horn Jr: The final selection for this group is Horn. A 6th round pick from last season, Horn had a minimal impact early, but was able to carve out a role on gadget plays late last year.
Horn is up against it in terms of making the roster. In my opinion, he has to be able to provide special teams value in order to be someone this team keeps around.
In his post-draft introductory press conference, Horn stressed that he loves being a returner. Both kick and punt returner are spots Carolina has ongoing competition, and in this exercise, Horn sticks around to help provide stability to both spots.
“I love doing (punt/kick) return, so like, that’s something I love to do, and I feel like that’s gonna help separate me too. Because it’s fun back there, man, it’s fun. You know you gotta be willing to take a hit to get one”
- Jimmy Horn Jr. on his value as a returner
Fringe-Out
Since there are only seven spots, someone had to get left out. While I may not have chosen this player, it wouldn’t surprise me to see him make the team.
David Moore: Moore has been with Dave Canales and Co. since 2017, where he was selected 226th overall by the Seattle Seahawks.
Since then, Moore has been a mainstay, helping teach the Canales culture and playbook while contributing when his number was called.
Last season, Moore initially made the final 53 and played in the Panthers first four contests. However, early in the Week 4 game against New England, Moore suffered an elbow dislocation and damage to the ligaments in his arm, forcing him out the remainder of the season.
Moore is a steady contributor that has familiarity with this coaching staff. The issue lies with his ability to stand out and provide unique value.
The emergence of Jimmy Horn Jr. as a potential returner and gadget player helps take away that niche from Moore. Tremayne’s blocking and Metchie’s reliability and rapport with Bryce Young are also hard to overcome.
I’m not sure that Moore won’t stick around, but for this piece, the team decides to head in a different direction.
Remainder and/or Practice Squad
The initial 53 players that a team decides to keep in August are never the same once they reach January. Each of the remaining receivers has something to bring to the team, especially on the practice squad.
Dan Chisena: Of this group, Chisena is the only one to see significant snaps for the Panthers. Against Arizona in 2024, Chisena helped to put the game away late in the 4th quarter and overtime.
Chisena has known value as a special teams player, and would likely be the first call up if he remains on Carolina’s practice squad.
Ainias Smith: Last August, Carolina made it a priority to sign Smith to their practice squad. He has remained there since, indicating that the Panthers don’t want anyone else snatching him up.
Ja’seem Reed: Reed is in a similar boat to Smith, having been a part of the Panthers practice squad since last August.
Kobe Prentice: The new addition to this group is Kobe Prentice, an undrafted rookie from Baylor.
Prentice transferred to Baylor from Alabama, and overlapped with Bryce Young during the 2022 season. As a true freshman, Prentice caught 31 passes for 337 yards and two touchdowns.
Having a connection with Carolina’s starting quarterback certainly doesn’t hurt Prentice’s chances of remaining in Carolina.
Final Prediction
After going through Carolina’s receiver options, it’s clear that there will be real competition this summer/fall for the last few spots. My final verdict for how that room shakes out is:
Tetairoa McMillan
Jalen Coker
Xavier Legette
Chris Brazzell II
Brycen Tremayne
John Metchie III
Jimmy Horn Jr.
There’s real talent in this group. McMillan and Coker look to be high-volume guys, Legette and Brazzell have potential to be unlocked, and Tremayne, Metchie, and Horn all have their own roles.
From the outside looking in, this should be the most talented group of receivers that Carolina carries since 2020. If it turns out that way on the field, the Panthers have a good shot at making it back to the playoffs.