Coming into the 2024 NFL offseason there was no secret that the Carolina Panthers needed to invest resources into surrounding Bryce Young with more talent on offense.
After being drafted first overall in the 2023 draft Young struggled to produce in his rookie season. Across 16 games, Young threw for 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions as Carolina’s offense was at or near the bottom of the league in all metrics.
With inconsistent offensive line play along with a lack of elite playmakers the rookie quarterback was put in a nearly impossible position to find success in year one. The question now is if the moves made by the Carolina Panthers this offseason will allow Young to find success in year two.
Carolina Panthers Offseason Additions
The top priority for the Carolina Panthers coming into this season is unquestionably to do everything in their power to surround Young with more talent. Their moves this offseason have shown their commitment to doing just that.
In free agency, Carolina spent big money to sure up both guard positions. They shelled out big money to sign former Miami Dolphins guard Robert Hunt to a five-year, $100 million deal and former Seattle Seahawks guard Damien Lewis to a four-year, $53 million deal.
The Carolina Panthers also made a big splash to acquire a pass catcher in a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers for Diontae Johnson. In an offense lacking playmakers, Johnson provides the Panthers with a polished route runner and consistent separator.
Now with their first draft selection in the 2024 NFL draft, the Carolina Panthers added another playmaker at wide receiver as the Panthers traded up one spot at the end of the first at 32nd overall to select South Carolina wide receiver Xavier Legette.
Legette was regarded as one of the top wide receivers in the draft class. His career arch is unique for an NFL draft prospect as he was a late bloomer at South Carolina. Legette recorded just 423 receiving yards in his first four seasons for the Gamecocks before emerging as one of the most productive wide receivers in college football with 1,255 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in 2023.
Breaking down what Xavier Legette brings to the table
Vertical Separator
Legette’s speed showed up with his combine workout as he ran a 4.39 40-yard dash, an incredible number for a 6-foot-1, 221-pound wide receiver. That speed is apparent on tape as well as his combination of long speed along with burst, acceleration, and physicality allows him to stack defensive backs to win downfield on vertical routes.
In 2023, Legette hauled in 13 passes of 20+ air yards for 554 yards, which was third in the SEC, trailing only LSU’s Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr.
His ability to win downfield will not only create splash plays in the NFL but the vertical threat he presents is something defenses are forced to account for which helps open up the short and intermediate passing game. This is an element that was missing from the Carolina Panthers offense before Legette’s addition.
Concentration/Hands
One of the biggest selling points to Legette’s game is how consistent his hands are. Legette had just two drops in 2023 on 71 catches which is a very good number showcasing his concentration to avoid focus drops. He also has very good concentration to secure catches through contact.
Xavier Legette only dropped two passes last year and has two of the best route runners in the league (Johnson and Thielen) to mentor him throughout his rookie season. pic.twitter.com/rPM5aBEiAU
— Michael Bell (@avl_mike) April 26, 2024
On downfield throws, Legette does an excellent job of utilizing his frame to position his body between the ball & the defender, as well as tracking the ball to run under and haul in throws downfield.
He’s also good in contested catch situations due to how well he’s able to highpoint the ball and utilize his physicality at the catch point.
Run After Catch
An element of Legette’s game that the Carolina Panthers will look to utilize is his abilities with the ball in his hands after the catch. His burst and acceleration allow him to separate from trailing defenders upon hauling in passes. This along with his long speed gives him the ability to turn a short catch into a big gain. At 221 pounds, he possesses the power and relentlessness to finish the run after catch plays. He breaks arm tackles from defensive backs very well and generates yards after catch.
Bottom Line
While Legette’s path to becoming a first-round pick isn’t one you normally see, he has the talent and skillset to justify a first-round selection. This selection also fills a need and is an excellent fit in the Carolina Panthers wide receiver room as his skillset is a good compliment to Diontae Johnson and Adam Thielen.
More About This Author
Evan has been a passionate sports fan since he was a kid. He contributes NFL and NFL draft content. You can also find Evan writing about Ohio State football on USA Today’s Buckeye Wire. Follow Evan on Twitter at @evanrbach.
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