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NFL Draft Receiver Says Carolina Panthers Have Promised Him

Originally posted on NFL Analysis Network
By Matthew Schmidt | Last updated 4/23/24

The Carolina Panthers should have the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft after finishing with the worst record in the league, but last year, they traded their 2024 first-round pick to the Chicago Bears for the No. 1 overall selection in 2023.

As a result, the Panthers do not own a first-round pick this week, but they will select first in the second round of the draft at No. 33.

Apparently, Carolina already knows what it wants to do at that spot.

University of South Carolina wide receiver Xavier Legette told John Crumpler of Texans Wire that if he is available at No. 33, the Panthers will take him.

“I’ve met with the Panthers 4 or 5 times… They keep telling me that if I’m sitting at (pick) 33 they’re going to take me.”

South Carolina WR Xavier Legette was not shy about disclosing his relationship with the receiver-needy, local Carolina Panthers.

The interest is real. pic.twitter.com/xB1gZ9PpNE
— John Crumpler (@JohnHCrumpler) April 22, 2024

Whether or not Legette will actually be available with the 33rd pick is anybody’s guess.

Legette is coming off of a fantastic 2023 campaign in which he hauled in 71 receptions for 1,255 yards and seven touchdowns.

The 23-year-old arrived at South Carolina in 2019, but made minimal impact until this past season, when he finally broke out.

At 6-foot-1 and 221 pounds, Legette has great size, and he also ran a 4.39-second 40 yard dash at the Scouting Combine in February.

He may not have the same cachet as other wide outs like Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers or Rome Odunze, but there is no question that Legette is one of the most talented receivers in this draft class and could end up being a first-round pick.

The Panthers are trying to add some more weapons for Bryce Young, who they took No. 1 overall last spring. Young had Adam Thielen and not a whole lot else in 2023, but Carolina swung a trade for Diontae Johnson last month, and it is hoping that Jonathan Mingo develops more next season.

If the Panthers are also able to add Legette, they will suddenly have a rather impressive stable of weapons at Young’s disposal.

We’ll see if Legette is available for Carolina at No. 33 later this week.

This article first appeared on NFL Analysis Network and was syndicated with permission.

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