
The Carolina Panthers have allocated about 6% of their 2026 salary cap to wide receivers, ranking 29th in the league. Key players include Tetairoa McMillan and Xavier Legette, with decisions looming on contract extensions and fifth-year options.
Last year’s first round pick, Tetairoa McMillan, counts about $6.35 million against the 2026 cap since he’s entering year two of his rookie contract. Xavier Legette is entering the third year of his rookie contract, though his cap hit is only $3.37 million because he was a late first rounder compared to McMillan’s top ten pick status. The Panthers signed to a $1.9 million contract in the offseason as well, and brought back at about $1.62 million. Both contracts are one year deals with limited guarantees. Chris Brazzell II signed his rookie tender and will make $885,000 this season while will make just over $1 million in the second year of his rookie contract. and were UDFAs who signed their Exclusive Rights Free Agent tags, meaning both will be making a non-guaranteed $1.075 million this season. , , and Jaseem Reed round out the wide receiver room with non-guaranteed contracts around $1 million.
Tetairoa McMillan's cap hit for the 2026 season is approximately $6.35 million.
The Panthers have about 6% of their 2026 salary cap dedicated to wide receivers.
The Panthers will need to decide on Xavier Legette's fifth-year option, which could exceed $13 million in 2028.
The Panthers rank 29th in receiver spending, with teams like the Bengals and Cowboys leading at 19% and 17%, respectively.

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Tetairoa McMillan won’t be going anywhere because he’s incredible and cutting him would actually lose the Panthers over $16 million in cap space. The team will need to make a decision next offseason on Xavier Legette’s fifth year option, which would hit in 2028 and probably be over $13 million. For next year, though, Legette’s cap hit is around the same only going up about $200,000 (so still just under $4 million). Cutting Legette next year would neither cost nor free any cap space. Chris Brazzell II will get a slight raise as well, probably around $1.2 million, with Jimmy Horn Jr likely getting a similar amount. The ERFA contracts for Tremayne and Coker will expire, so they’ll come off the books (though Coker will absolutely be extended). The remaining receivers are also on expiring contracts, so the Panthers will have some additions they will need to make next offseason.
All told, the Panthers are sitting around 6% of their 2026 cap dedicated to receivers, which is near the bottom of the league (29th) since they are relying on cheap vets and players on rookie contracts. Teams like the Bengals (19%), Cowboys (17%), and Lions (15%) lead the league in receiver spending in 2026, which should not be a surprise given the massive contracts for multiple receivers on those rosters. Only the Falcons (5.89%), Bears (4.93%), and Dolphins (2.27%) are projected to spend less on receivers in 2026.