XL is a Lost Cause

[Joe Bear]

Most of XL's problems stem from lack of concentration and, really, just a lack of ability to play the position at an NFL level.

Please ignore T-Mac's OROY season and Coker's late-year breakout when making excuses for XL such as WAIL BRYCE DUNG THOWED IT TOO BAD AGINN LET'S GO HEELS.

[strato]

29 minutes ago, Joe Bear said:

Most of XL's problems stem from lack of concentration and, really, just a lack of ability to play the position at an NFL level.

Please ignore T-Mac's OROY season and Coker's late-year breakout when making excuses for XL such as WAIL BRYCE DUNG THOWED IT TOO BAD AGINN LET'S GO HEELS.

You know it is possible for your two things to be true, and also for Bryce not helping the situation being true as well.

XL was open a lot, not seen or at least targeted, and there were some poorly placed balls in the mix. 
I don’t see a soul defending or denying XL’s mental lapses which in a broad sense can include just about every mistake he made. The brain dead penalties and sideline stuff, right along with his drops. He failed the test in 2025. He was demoted with good reason.  I don’t see anyone arguing against that.

[PNW_PantherMan]

On 2/10/2026 at 10:38 AM, Bear Hands said:

I just can’t believe he was a 1st rounder. Albeit pick 32 but ooof.

Who knows, maybe he turns it around but there’s something that is so off with him… its his whole game… His pace, lack of short area quickness, poor awareness, a lot of stuff that going into year 3 is pretty much make or break.

It’s wild because our FO seemed soo intent on the guy but he really doesn’t fit with the team well.

I just don’t see a guy that’s a net positive when you put him in. You hold your breath when he’s the first or second read.

The funniest thing was his pro projection was Jonathan Mingo in a lot of mocks.

[mrcompletely11]

9 minutes ago, PNW_PantherMan said:

The funniest thing was his pro projection was Jonathan Mingo in a lot of mocks.

The funniest thing was Morgan and co crowing like roosters that we were able to get his 5th year option.  Buffalo was like

 

 

 

[PNW_PantherMan]

1 minute ago, mrcompletely11 said:

The funniest thing was Morgan and co crowing like roosters that we were able to get his 5th year option.  Buffalo was like

 

 

 

I bet they wish they had the option to have not drafted him now.

[strato]

1 hour ago, mrcompletely11 said:

The funniest thing was Morgan and co crowing like roosters that we were able to get his 5th year option.  Buffalo was like

 

 

 

Well, their guy wasn’t much better. 

[NorthTryon]

23 hours ago, PleaseCutStewart said:

Hmmm... Well, one of them consistently got dumb penalties that you never see any other receiver commit like offensive offsides on 4th down. One of them consistently would just run routes out of bounds for no reason. XL's only saving grace is that he has been a solid blocker at WR for us

There is a reason XL often didn't get the ball thrown to him - he made some of the dumbest mistakes I have ever seen from a receiver... Even receivers that have zilcho talent (Mingo, Terrace Marshall, and all of our other WR draft busts) didn't make mistakes this dumb. It is bad enough when you aren't helping your team because you can't get open; it is much worse when you are so bad and dumb that you are actively hurting your team.

I honestly don't think there is any fixing XL. The dude is just an idiot and lacks any kind of awareness and common sense on and off the football field

You are overgeneralizing talking about every Panther WR that didn't make it. Calling the guy an idiot is lazy and assuming. And I said it wasn't worth bringing up real points because people like you would be lazy and generalize like a scorned woman. Thanks for not disappointing. 

On 2/11/2026 at 9:01 AM, MechaZain said:

Excuses when he's been in the league and around Bryce longer than the guys who are producing

He and Coker came into the league the same year. Who was producing in the Seattle game when we passed for 54yds? That's not excuses, but facts. In the playoff game, he smoked a corner off the line of scrimmage just like the Atlanta game and Bryce didn't go to him. I don't consider it an excuse if the QB doesn't look your way or limits your opportunities. Like I said earlier, TMac and Coker are better at making chicken salad out of chicken shite. Don't act like you haven't seen the passes thrown that require extreme contortion or athleticism like jumping five feet in the air to catch. Also, they said in the video he could stand to get closer with Bryce. TMac and Coker have better relationships on and off the field with Bryce. That matters, anyone who has played sports knows that. I said he needs to hear Cam and that means strengthening the relationship with the QB your organization has now. 

[Navy_football]

It appears that he sees things differently than the QB and OC, so Cam's advice is spot on. It isn't about number of targets, it's about quality of targets. Trust and being on the same page. BY doesn't know how to anticipate what XL is doing. And XL doesn't like where BY is placing passes. One on one film study would go a long way. More for BY than XL though. He has to adjust to XL. I really don't think XL can adjust on the fly. 

[Panthers Fan 69]

Someone has to say it so I will. XL is dumb and or dull.  Can’t grasp nfl concepts.   Had an ok last year at SC based on his athleticism.  

[frankw]

I think most people like XL from a personal standpoint. I don't think he's stupid either. Although if we are being realistic he is lacking in football IQ at this point in time and it cannot be disputed that he has not taken working on his craft seriously at all times given the body of work on the field. It speaks for itself. I myself have defended him at times given the circumstances of our QB room. But he is now in his third year and 25 years old. We are not in a position as a franchise to go around babying anyone especially first round draft picks. He needs to take his position and his football career seriously or he is going to end up selling used cars somewhere. I hope he realizes this and takes an extended break from social media because that mess certainly isn't going to increase his net worth if he ends up out of the league. And these hanger on types will disappear quick too once that money dries up and it surely will eventually. We'll see how he responds.

Edited 1 hour ago by frankw

[SmokinwithWilly]

On 2/14/2026 at 8:21 AM, Navy_football said:

It appears that he sees things differently than the QB and OC, so Cam's advice is spot on. It isn't about number of targets, it's about quality of targets. Trust and being on the same page. BY doesn't know how to anticipate what XL is doing. And XL doesn't like where BY is placing passes. One on one film study would go a long way. More for BY than XL though. He has to adjust to XL. I really don't think XL can adjust on the fly. 

I agree with this and I think it's worth mentioning too that Bryce is not consistent on his placement and especially velocity and that in large part is driven by his footwork. We all know XL doesn't have the best hands and I don't know that he can overcome that. Cam always had the heater that just hit your hands and sank into your grip, where Bryce has some that are harder thrown, some soft. Bryce stepping into a pass looks so much different than that hop throw thing he does. I think XL really needs to hit the jugs machine and start learning how to catch all these different touch passes. TMac and Coker don't have these issues. If XL doesn't get some work in he's going to be out of the league in the next couple of years.