Cat Scratch Reader (CAR)
Carolina’s Cap Comparison: Wide Receivers
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With the player additions mostly finalized for this offseason, many fans are curious where the Panthers stand in terms of cap space and distribution. In this series, we’ll take a look at just how much the Panthers have tied up in specific position groups over the next couple of seasons, what contracts could be terminated or extended, and what percentage of the cap each group takes up. For this series, I’ll be using the numbers at Over the Cap. Next on our list, the wide receivers!On the BooksLast 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 John Metchie III to a $1.9 million contract in the offseason as well, and brought back David Moore 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 Jimmy Horn Jr will make just over $1 million in the second year of his rookie contract. Dan Chisena and Jalen Coker were UDFAs who signed their Exclusive Rights Free Agent tags, meaning both will be making a non-guaranteed $1.075 million this season. Brycen Tremayne, Ainias Smith, and Jaseem Reed round out the wide receiver room with non-guaranteed contracts around $1 million.Next YearTetairoa 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 UpAll 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.
Takes mentioned in this episode
- Chicago Bears team · neutral
“Only the Falcons (4.93%), Bears (4.93%), and Dolphins (2.27%) are projected to spend less on receivers in 2026.”
Comparison of team spending on wide receiver contracts.
- Tetairoa McMillan player · positive
“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.”
Speaker explicitly calls him 'incredible' and notes his value to the team's cap structure.
- Carolina Panthers team · neutral
“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.”
Factual analysis of cap allocation strategy; 29th in receiver spending is presented as a consequence of roster construction approach.
- Ainias Smith player · neutral
“Brycen Tremayne, Ainias Smith, and Jaseem Reed round out the wide receiver room with non-guaranteed contracts around $1 million.”
Mention of his contract status.
- Carolina Panthers team · neutral
“many fans are curious where the Panthers stand in terms of cap space and distribution.”
Discussion about the team's salary cap situation.
- Tetairoa McMillan player · positive
“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.”
Discussion of his contract and value to the team.
- Jimmy Horn Jr player · neutral
“while Jimmy Horn Jr will make just over $1 million in the second year of his rookie contract.”
Mention of his rookie contract details.
- Dan Chisena player · neutral
“Dan Chisena and Jalen Coker were UDFAs who signed their Exclusive Rights Free Agent tags.”
Mention of his ERFA status.
- Brycen Tremayne player · neutral
“Brycen Tremayne, Ainias Smith, and Jaseem Reed round out the wide receiver room with non-guaranteed contracts around $1 million.”
Mention of his contract status.
- Jaseem Reed player · neutral
“Brycen Tremayne, Ainias Smith, and Jaseem Reed round out the wide receiver room with non-guaranteed contracts around $1 million.”
Mention of his contract status.
- Cincinnati Bengals team · neutral
“Teams like the Bengals (19%), Cowboys (17%), and Lions (15%) lead the league in receiver spending.”
Comparison of team spending on wide receivers.
- Dallas Cowboys team · neutral
“Teams like the Bengals (17%), Cowboys (17%), and Lions (15%) lead the league in receiver spending.”
Comparison of team spending on wide receivers.
- Detroit Lions team · neutral
“Teams like the Bengals (19%), Cowboys (17%), and Lions (15%) lead the league in receiver spending.”
Comparison of team spending on wide receivers.
- Atlanta Falcons team · neutral
“Only the Falcons (5.89%), Bears (4.93%), and Dolphins (2.27%) are projected to spend less on receivers in 2026.”
Comparison of team spending on wide receivers.
- David Moore player · neutral
“and brought back David Moore at about $1.62 million.”
Mention of his contract renewal.
- Xavier Legette player · neutral
“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.”
Analysis of his current salary cap hit.
- John Metchie III player · neutral
“The Panthers signed John Metchie III to a $1.9 million contract in the offseason as well.”
Mention of his new one-year contract.
- Chris Brazzell player · neutral
“Chris Brazzell II signed his rookie tender and will make $885,000 this season.”
Mention of his rookie contract details.
- Jalen Coker player · neutral
“Dan Chisena and Jalen Coker were UDFAs who signed their Exclusive Rights Free Agent tags.”
Mention of his ERFA status.
- Tetairoa McMillan player · neutral
“On the BooksLast 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.”
On the BooksLast 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.
- John Metchie III player · neutral
“The Panthers signed John Metchie III to a $1.9 million contract in the offseason as well, and brought back David Moore at about $1.62 million.”
The Panthers signed John Metchie III to a $1.9 million contract in the offseason as well, and brought back David Moore at about $1.62 million.
- David Moore player · neutral
“The Panthers signed John Metchie III to a $1.9 million contract in the offseason as well, and brought back David Moore at about $1.62 million.”
The Panthers signed John Metchie III to a $1.9 million contract in the offseason as well, and brought back David Moore at about $1.62 million.
- Chris Brazzell player · neutral
“Chris Brazzell II signed his rookie tender and will make $885,000 this season while Jimmy Horn Jr will make just over $1 million in the second year of his rookie contract.”
Chris Brazzell II signed his rookie tender and will make $885,000 this season while Jimmy Horn Jr will make just over $1 million in the second year of his rookie contract.
- Jimmy Horn Jr player · neutral
“Chris Brazzell II signed his rookie tender and will make $885,000 this season while Jimmy Horn Jr will make just over $1 million in the second year of his rookie contract.”
Chris Brazzell II signed his rookie tender and will make $885,000 this season while Jimmy Horn Jr will make just over $1 million in the second year of his rookie contract.
- Dan Chisena player · neutral
“Dan Chisena and Jalen Coker were UDFAs who signed their Exclusive Rights Free Agent tags, meaning both will be making a non-guaranteed $1.075 million this season.”
Dan Chisena and Jalen Coker were UDFAs who signed their Exclusive Rights Free Agent tags, meaning both will be making a non-guaranteed $1.075 million this season.
- Brycen Tremayne player · neutral
“Brycen Tremayne, Ainias Smith, and Jaseem Reed round out the wide receiver room with non-guaranteed contracts around $1 million.”
Brycen Tremayne, Ainias Smith, and Jaseem Reed round out the wide receiver room with non-guaranteed contracts around $1 million.
- Ainias Smith player · neutral
“Brycen Tremayne, Ainias Smith, and Jaseem Reed round out the wide receiver room with non-guaranteed contracts around $1 million.”
Brycen Tremayne, Ainias Smith, and Jaseem Reed round out the wide receiver room with non-guaranteed contracts around $1 million.
- Jaseem Reed player · neutral
“Brycen Tremayne, Ainias Smith, and Jaseem Reed round out the wide receiver room with non-guaranteed contracts around $1 million.”
Brycen Tremayne, Ainias Smith, and Jaseem Reed round out the wide receiver room with non-guaranteed contracts around $1 million.
- Panthers team · neutral
“With the player additions mostly finalized for this offseason, many fans are curious where the Panthers stand in terms of cap space and distribution.”
With the player additions mostly finalized for this offseason, many fans are curious where the Panthers stand in terms of cap space and distribution.
- Bengals team · neutral
“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.”
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 ro