It was always going to happen for the Carolina Panthers.
Minutes before midnight in Thursday's first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Panthers struck up a trade with the Buffalo Bills to nab the last pick in the first round and select Xavier Legette out of the University of South Carolina.
The trade into the first round to select Legette was massive, as it gives the Panthers the all-important fifth-year option on a player Dan Morgan and Dave Canales are head over heels for.
As for the reason behind the Panthers' selecting Legette, well, that goes a bit further than merely his 6-foot-1 frame and insane athleticism.
"You know, besides the player, we love Xavier," Morgan said, via the Panthers' official team website. "Everything he bought, not, not only as a person but as a player, like his ability to attack the ball when it's in the air, his ability to run with it after the catch. It's just big, he's strong, he's physical.
"I think he has a lot of upside. So, we wanted to take that opportunity to go get our guy."
Several expected Legette to be in a Panthers uniform after the draft. The No. 32 selection spilled last week that he was told by the Panthers he would be selected if he were still available at the franchise's selection.
At first, Canales balked at the idea – claiming the Panthers told 50 players the same thing. But that ultimately wasn't the complete truth.
Carolina liked Legette. He is somewhat of a hometown name, dawning from Mullins, South Carolina.
He is versatile as a pass catcher and a returner, though Morgan and Canales stressed that Legette's primary function would be in the receiving game.
His only full season as an every-game starter at South Carolina was one where he finally blew up. He pulled down 71 passes for 1,255 yards – a 17.7-yard average – and seven touchdowns.
His first game was probably his most impressive, notching nine catches for 178 yards in a loss to North Carolina. For Canales, he sees a bevy of ways he can use the uber-athletic receiver to make the game easier for everyone on offense, including Bryce Young.
"The versatility is huge for us," Canales said. "So when you get a guy who can really run a guy who can high point the ball, a guy that can carry it and you can give him the ball different ways. He just brings a lot of versatility.
"Now with that being said, he's got a long way to go. He's got to learn our stuff. He's got to figure out the system and, and find out how he fits into the whole thing, not just the pass game, but the run game as well.
"So, just speaking to that, I'm just really excited to bring his talents to our offense. At the same time, I'm sure he knows, too. He's got a lot of work in front of him."
Carolina saw the guy it wanted still on the board near the end of the first round. It saw the advantage of having that cost-efficient fifth-year option, so Morgan pulled the trigger – not losing too much in the process.
If it works out, Young having a wide receiver room of Adam Thielen, Diontae Johnson and Legette, coupled with a consistent running game, then gone are the days of touchdowns being hard to come by for the Panthers' offense.
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