In 2024 draft do-over, Panthers pass on Xavier Legette for another rookie WR

"In fairness to Legette, the jury is still out on whether he’s a bust, and he could remain a starter this season," Holder admitted. "However, the Panthers spent a first-round pick on another wideout last April, as the South Carolina product had an underwhelming rookie campaign and could get squeezed out of the starting lineup in training camp."

The worst part isn't Legette's struggles per se, it's that McConkey and even a few others who were picked later did better than Legette. "What makes Legette’s first-year struggles sting for the Panthers is the fact that another wideout taken two picks later was immediately productive."

McConkey far outdid Legette with 82 catches for 1,149 yards and seven touchdowns last season, which was third, third, and tied for fourth among rookie wideouts. Quarterback play factored in as well, as Justin Herbert was more reliable than the combination of Bryce Young and Andy Dalton for most of the year, but still. McConkey was better.

What's perhaps more surprising is picking Legette as the worst pick in five years. Jonathan Mingo (2023), Jonathon Brooks (2024), Matt Corrall (2022), and Terrace Marshall Jr. (2021) were all options that might've been worse.