The pressure is on for the Carolina Panthers as they head into the 2026 season, and two of their players are facing some of the hottest seats in the entire NFL. After a thrilling 2025 campaign that saw them win eight games and capture a division championship, the Panthers are no longer underdogs—they're contenders. But with great success comes great expectations, and with one of the toughest schedules in the league looming, every player will need to step up.
Roster renewal is the name of the game in the NFL, and the Panthers are no exception. While first-round pick Monroe Freeling battles for a starting spot on the offensive line, the team is counting heavily on their second and third-round selections: defensive lineman Lee Hunter and wide receiver Chris Brazzell II. For the veterans already on the roster, that means the competition just got a whole lot fiercer.
According to ESPN analyst Ben Solak, third-year wide receiver Xavier Legette is sitting on one of the league's most precarious seats. It wasn't long ago that Legette looked like a rising star—he led the Panthers in targets as a rookie and seemed poised for a bright future. But the NFL moves fast. The emergence of undrafted free agent Jalen Coker, the drafting of 2025 Offensive Rookie of the Year Tetairoa McMillan, and now the arrival of Chris Brazzell II have pushed Legette down the depth chart to No. 3. With Brazzell breathing down his neck, Legette needs to prove he can be a net positive in the passing game—or risk watching from the sidelines. The warning signs are already there: his snap count decreased in each of the team's final four regular-season games last year.
Legette isn't the only Panther feeling the heat. Defensive tackle Bobby Brown III is also on Solak's hot seat list. As the Panthers look to fortify their defensive line against a brutal schedule, Brown will need to show he can be a consistent force in the trenches. With rookies like Lee Hunter pushing for playing time, every snap counts.
For Panthers fans, this is both a challenge and a reason for excitement. The team is building depth, and competition brings out the best in players. Whether these veterans rise to the occasion or make way for the next generation, one thing is certain: the 2026 season is shaping up to be a defining one for Carolina.