The Carolina Panthers weren't satisfied waiting until Friday to start drafting.
The Panthers traded into the final spot of the first round of the 2024 ¹ú²ú̽»¨Draft on Thursday night -- moving up one spot from the first pick of Round 2 – to draft South Carolina wide receiver Xavier Leggette at No. 32 overall, giving QB Bryce Young some more weaponry.
The Panthers sent the Buffalo Bills a fifth-round pick (141st overall) along with No. 33 to get the 32nd and 200th overall picks. Buffalo now will kick off Day 2 on Friday at 7 p.m. ET.
The maiden selection of new general manager Dan Morgan was a mild surprise. Legette has first-round measurables but was considered a possible Day 2 pick because he was essentially a one-year college producer after being used as a gadget player earlier in his career with the Gamecocks. He also had an up-and-down Senior Bowl week, including some drops in the game.
But Legette -- who grew up in nearby Mullins, S.C. -- is a height-weight-speed maven and could end up a dominant ¹ú²ú̽»¨player with the right development. At 6-foot-1 and 221 pounds, Legette has an A.J. Brown-like physique and can employ his play strength readily. He also can burn corners deep, as his 4.39-second 40-yard dash time at the ¹ú²ú̽»¨Scouting Combine indicates.
The light finally came on for Legette in 2023. He'd totaled only 42 catches and five TDs in his first 41 college games, slowed by a hamstring injury and a motorcycle accident in 2021. Legette and Spencer Rattler became one of the better QB-WR combos in college football last season, as Legette caught 71 passes for 1,255 yards (17.7-yard average) and seven TDs.
Don't overlook Legette's kick-return ability, too. With the league changing its kickoff rules for the 2024 season, Legette's career 26.4-yard KO return average (and a TD in 2022) helps make this pick look a bit smarter.
But it's a risk for Morgan in his first ever selection as a GM. If Legette capitalizes on his talent, he might be a DK Metcalf-like weapon for the Panthers, who had a feckless offense a year ago. This is exactly the type of weapon Young lacked in 2023. But Legette might also require some patience and detail-oriented coaching if his big-play ability is going to be unlocked.
