Panthers trade up late, draft speedy WR Xavier Legette

SOUTH CAROLINA ATHLETICS

The Carolina Panthers traded its 33rd pick in this year's NFL draft to Buffalo for the 32nd selection, which resulted in the acquisition of South Carolina receiver Xavier Legette.

During his travels around Uptown, new Panthers coach Dave Canales heard a series of opinions on who his team should select with their first pick in the three-day NFL Draft, which kicked off with the first-round showcase Thursday in Detroit.

“Who did I get yesterday? I got Ladd McConkey from a guy at Flower Child,” Canales said Wednesday. “What else did I get? I got a Chop Robinson two days ago. I get (Xavier) Legette a lot. People are throwing names at me, and I think it’s really fun.”  

Canales had a ready-made response: “Yeah, what a great player. Wouldn’t that be cool?”

The Legette prognosticators were right.

The Panthers, who were slated to select No. 33 overall, traded up one spot before the final first-round selection and grabbed the receiver from South Carolina.

At 6-foot-1, 221 pounds, Legette ran a 4.39-second 40-yard dash during the NFL Combine. A one-year starter, Legette led the Gamecocks with 71 receptions, 1,255 yards and seven touchdowns during his breakout campaign.

The Panthers, who produced the fewest yards per game in the NFL last season, were interested in adding a physical, downfield threat for second-year quarterback Bryce Young. They scouted Legette vigorously throughout the pre-draft process.

After being selected No. 32 overall, the Mullins, S.C., native said he was “confident” he was going to be selected by the local team.

“Whole lotta joy,” Legette said via a video interview with reporters. “I had a good feeling about them.”

The feeling started manifesting during practices for the Senior Bowl. The sides met three days in a row.

“That’s when I realized they want me,” Legette said.  

The feeling grew stronger with each preceding get-together, at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, pro days and over a recent dinner.

Legette soon realized “these guys are serious,” he said.  

After seeing three receivers go from picks 23-31 on Thursday, Morgan made the move with the Bills to secure the player of need. The Panthers also exchanged a fifth-round pick for a sixth.

Legette could also contribute as a kick returner.  

“It’s a grown man’s game and I’m a grown man,” he said. “I’m going to bring that fight.”

Legette was the seventh and final receiver taken Thursday, establishing a new draft record. He’s not concerned about the six who went before him.

“I’m just going to go out and play my game,” he said. “I’m not worried about where I got picked, as long as I got picked.”  

Beginning a draft-record run of 14 consecutive offensive players selected, Southern California quarterback Caleb Williams was the first-overall pick by the Chicago Bears, who acquired the slot from the Panthers before last year’s draft, which Carolina used to draft Young. Six quarterbacks were selected in the opening 12 picks Thursday.

The draft continues with Rounds 2 and 3 Friday and the Panthers have the Nos. 39 and 65 picks. The draft concludes with Rounds 4-7 Saturday.

Panthers looking at drafting succession plans

Throughout the remaining six rounds, Morgan could focus on succession plans for several positions.  

“I think you always got to talk about succession planning,” he said Thursday. “And that’s stuff that we definitely talk about. Myself, along with Brandt [Tillis] and Dave, we sit there and we talk about the roster. Not just now, in the short-term view, but we’re going to look at it in the long-term view as well.”

Among the position rooms the Panthers could use an injection of youth include center, inside linebacker, nickel cornerback and safety.

Returning from a leg injury, Shaq Thompson is expected to reclaim the starting inside linebacker role in the final year of his restructured contract. Newly signed Josey Jewell is under contract for three seasons but turns 30 in December.

Possible ILB targets: Junior Colson (Michigan), Cedric Gray (North Carolina), Payton Wilson (N.C. State).  

Austin Corbett moved from guard to center in what appears to be a one-season audition. In the final year of his contract and set to turn 29 in September, Corbett could be called upon to mentor a top prospect.
Possible center targets: Tanor Bortolini (Wisconsin), Zach Frazier, West Virginia, Sedrick Van Pran (Georgia).

Troy Hill was re-signed during the offseason and is expected to take control of the nickel cornerback position. But at age 33 this season, Hill will have to defy the odds at an age when players often begin to decline.
Possible nickel cornerback targets: Max Melton (Rutgers), Mike Sainristil (Michigan), T.J. Tampa (Iowa State).

The safety room could be completely overhauled for 2025. Jared Fuller, Xavier Woods, Sam Franklin Jr. and Nick Scott are going into contract seasons and could enter free agency next year.  

Possible safety targets: Jaden Hicks (Washington State), Kamren Kinchens (Miami), Tyler Nubin (Minnesota).

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