The Carolina Panthers have done a solid job of making life easier for Bryce Young in free agency. Thus far, the team has spent big on guards Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis while acquiring a talented wide receiver in Diontae Johnson. Of course, there is still work to be done, and most expect Carolina to take a wide receiver with one of their second-round picks in the 2024 NFL Draft. Recently, the Panthers On Tap account tweeted out a list of possible players for the Panthers to draft, including Adonai Mitchell, Keon Coleman, Xavier Legette, and Ladd McConkey.
Even with Diontae Johnson in town, the Panthers could still use another young wide receiver. Adam Thielen is closer to the end of his career than the beginning, and Johnson is only under contract for one more season. This team needs an infusion of youth, and the 2024 draft class is supposedly stacked with talent at wide receiver. While any of the players mentioned above could be a good choice, Bryce Young’s father hopes the Panthers select South Carolina’s Xavier Legette.
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— Craig Young (@YoungCJB) March 16, 2024
Bryce Young’s Dad: Panthers Should Draft Xavier Legette
Xavier Legette The Player
Before discussing how he’d fit with the Panthers, we first need to talk about Xavier Legette as a prospect. Measuring in at 6′-1″ and 221 pounds, the South Carolina product has the size and build to play a physical style of ball as an outside receiver. Bigger than some tight ends, the prospect knows how to use every last inch of his size to win contested passes. Basically, if it’s thrown in his zip code, there’s a good chance he’ll come down with it.
Bigger players like this generally have a tougher time with lateral movement, but Xavier Legette moves well for his size. While he’s not nearly as shifty as guys like Marvin Harrison Jr., the big-bodied receiver moves well enough to make plays at all three levels of the field. Additionally, when he gets a head of steam, he’s hard for cornerbacks to take down.
As with all prospects, Xavier Legette has a few red flags the Panthers will need to consider. For one, 2023 was the first time he saw more than 30 targets, which isn’t what you want to see from a prospect. Additionally, he’s not a polished route runner and exclusively relies on size to win downfield. That might work against smaller and weaker college cornerbacks, but historically speaking, it does not translate to the pros.
How He Fits With the Panthers
If this profile sounds familiar to you, it’s because it’s very similar to Jonathan Mingo’s draft profile. Written by yours truly, I believed Mingo had plenty of untapped athletic potential but relied too much on being bigger and stronger than everyone in college. He wasn’t a refined player and his inability to separate was a major red flag. While the Panthers took him in the second round, I gave him a 4th-5th round grade.
Legette is a better prospect than Mingo, but the two have similar strengths and weaknesses. If the Panthers select Xavier Legette, it’s hard to imagine a world where players with such similar skillsets are on the field at the same time. If Legette becomes a Panther, it means that the new coaching staff has effectively given up on Mingo. However, if head coach Dave Canales believes Mingo’s career can be salvaged, then they’ll probably target someone like Ladd McConkey instead.
Main Photo: Kirby Lee – USA Today Sports
