Carolina’s Cap Comparison: Wide Receivers

Next Year

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.

Measuring Up

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.