The Carolina Panthers selected South Carolina receiver Xavier Legette with the No. 32 overall pick in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
The Panthers traded up from No. 33 — the first pick of the second round — to get the last pick in the first round from the Buffalo Bills. Along with the 33rd pick, Carolina sent No. 141 in the fifth round to Buffalo for No. 200 in the sixth round.
The 6-foot-1, 221-pound wide receiver had a monster 2023 season with 71 catches for 1,255 yards and seven touchdowns in 2023. The Blanchard-Rogers Trophy winner averaged 17.7 yards per catch as he quickly became the Gamecocks’ top offensive weapon.
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‘The Beast’ breakdown
Legette ranked No. 76 in Dane Brugler’s Top 300 big board. Here’s what Brugler had to say about him in his annual NFL Draft guide:
“Overall, Legette needs to continue developing his route proficiency and tempo, but his film gives off DK Metcalf vibes, and he has the explosive speed and physicality to be a matchup weapon. He should be an immediate contributor on special teams before competing for starting reps outside.”
Coaching intel
What an anonymous coach had to say about Legette in Bruce Feldman’s draft confidential:
“We’re big fans of his. He’s pretty special, and a great kid. What’s worrisome are a bunch of injuries and that motorcycle accident.”
Why he’s a first-round pick
Considering the low production outside of 2023 in college, it takes a team watching Legette’s film and believing the traits will translate in order to pick him. He earned All-SEC second team honors after an outstanding season playing with another prospective draft pick in QB Spencer Rattler. Legette’s rise continued at the NFL combine with a 4.39-second 40-yard dash and 40-inch vertical leap. He’s an athletic specimen whose best football may be yet to come.
THAT BALL WAS LAUNCHED 🚀@SpencerRattler throws a 42-yard dime to @XavierLegette for the TD!
📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/bs7OwQnlbn
— Gamecock Football (@GamecockFB) December 30, 2022
Come back for more analysis of Legette later.
(Photo: Todd Kirkland / Getty Images)
