PALM BEACH, Fla. — Everyone, it seems, wants to give the Panthers and quarterback Bryce Young that mythical "No. 1 receiver."

Panthers head coach Dave Canales believes he may already be on the roster.

Even though the Panthers tried to find that guy with Diontae Johnson last year, and even though they made a call on former Seahawks wideout DK Metcalf before he was traded to the Steelers, and even though they get lumped into the speculation about every other name on the market, Canales said they were content to go into the season with what they have (pending the draft).

And that's based on what they've already seen from Xavier Legette

"I think we got that guy. I think it's Xavier," Canales said Tuesday morning at the league's annual meeting at The Breakers resort. "And I think it's up to the coaches to just continue to develop him and let him grow at his pace. So, for me, the goal for Xavier Legette is let's just take that next step. This is going to be his first offseason with us, from phase one all the way through, and I just love to see where that goes.

"You got a guy who's 6-2 1/2, 225 pounds, and runs 4.3. And he's a playmaker, and it's on film, and so it's like, let's start there. Let's just take the next step with him."

The Panthers traded up to the end of the first round last year to get the South Carolina wideout, primarily so they'd have the fifth-year option on the 24-year-old.

In many ways, he's of a similar platform to the 6-4, 229-pound Metcalf, whom Canales coached in Seattle. But they also think there's a chance for growth with Legette beyond what he showed last season.

Legette caught 49 passes for 497 yards and four touchdowns as a rookie.

Canales continued to stress the collective nature of last year's second-half strides, pointing to the contributions of Jalen Coker and Adam Thielen and the rest of the receiving corps, but clearly they see the potential in Legette to be the kind of target people want to keep giving them in mock drafts and online speculation about trades or free agents.

Legette had the very visible drop against the Eagles and responded by joining compulsive pass-catchers Chuba Hubbard and Tommy Tremble on the Jugs machine the following week, so Canales isn't concerned that Legette might not be doing enough.

"Xavier's doing a bunch of stuff; He's an overworker, and that's a good thing," Canales said. "He's wired the right way. He's grinding. He's in there. He's doing stuff.

"You can't get him out of the building. He's there early and late, and so he's one of those guys, so he's doing all the right things, and with the hard work, it will pay off."

Legette played in 16 games, pushing through some injuries late, and had foot surgery this offseason. He's already out of the boot and rehabbing at the stadium,

"I think everything affects everyone," Canales replied when asked how the injury affected him. "He had the foot. He's a rookie. It's a long season. I think it's all those things.

"So that's a good challenge for Xavier this year is just like taking one week at a time, just focusing on this game, getting yourself out there to be healthy, having a plan and process for your body going."