Xavier Legette lands in Carolina after move up

The Panthers traded up one spot to grab South Carolina WR Xavier Legette with the final pick of Round 1. Legette is one of the toughest evaluations in this year’s WR class. He did next to nothing over his first four college seasons, totaling just 42 catches. That stretch included a 2020 hamstring injury and a 2021 motorcycle accident – all after Legette spent his senior year of high school playing QB. Then he came out of nowhere for a huge 2023 campaign. Legette’s 1,255 receiving yards ranked eighth in the country. He accounted for 37.6% of South Carolina’s receiving yards and 33.3% of the receiving TDs. And he ranked top-16 among 286 qualifying WRs in both yards per route and Pro Football Focus receiving grade. Then Legette smashed the Combine, recording a 4.39-second 40 time and 40-inch vertical at 6’1, 221 pounds to earn a 9.90 Relative Athletic Score. That elite combination of size and speed pops off the tape. Legette can dominate on deep balls and after the catch. He also has a big catch radius and reliable hands. Legette is relatively raw in the route-running department, though, and isn’t the most agile player. It’s fair to wonder how much more room he has to grow considering he turned 23 in January. Legette lands in an offense with decent opportunity, but we wouldn't bet on big target share in 2024. Carolina acquired WR Diontae Johnson to boost a receiving corps that Adam Thielen led in 2023. Check our rookie rankings to see where Xavier Legette settles.

ESPN's Matt Miller said from the Combine on Saturday that South Carolina WR Xavier Legette reminds him of Eagles WR A.J. Brown "from a body type standpoint." Legette checked into Indianapolis at 6'1 and 221 pounds -- an inch taller and five pounds lighter than Brown. Legette's 4.39-second 40-yard dash actually beats Brown's time by a tenth of a second. Legette had a strong overall Combine showing, also registering a 40-inch vertical and 126-inch broad jump to earn a 9.92 Relative Athletic Score. He's a polarizing prospect who totaled just 42 catches across his first four college seasons before breaking out with a 71-1,255-7 line last year. Be careful not to overrate Legette's Combine performance -- but it certainly helps his upside case.