The Carolina Panthers opted to trade up into the first round of the NFL Draft to secure South Carolina receiver Xavier Legette. Despite hosting talent like Brenden Rice and Malachi Corley, the team made a bold statement by selecting the 6-foot-1, 221-pound receiver.
The decision to draft Legette has drawn mixed reviews from analysts and fans. Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons, and Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud served as guests on Bleacher Report’s draft show. Stroud defended the Legette pick after analyst Mike Renner gave the Panthers a C grade for the selection.
“You don’t get receivers to all be the same type of route-runners or weapons …Diontae Johnson is a heck of a route-runner and creates a lot of separation. Thielen is another guy who’s a vet and is very smart. I think this guy comes in and is that D.K. Metcalf, that Deebo Samuel who can take the top off the defense,” Stroud said.
Stroud, who himself has proved to be a promising player, drew parallels to successful NFL duos in the NFL. He said the value of having receivers who can complement each other’s strengths.
“When you look at D.K., he has always had Tyler Lockett. A.J. Brown … he has DeVonta Smith. They all work off each other. You don’t need everybody to be the same type of guy.”
Legette can become a versatile weapon on the offense that failed to support quarterback Bryce Young last season. Some may question the value of trading up for Legette. However, Stroud’s insights shed light on the strategic thinking behind the Panthers’ decision, and their front office also has trust in their pick.
Panthers front office opens up about the reason behind drafting Xavier Legette
The Panthers front office recently shed light on their decision to draft Xavier Legette. General Manager Dan Morgan highlighted Legette’s exceptional attributes, praising his ability to make plays both in catching and running with the ball.
“You know, besides the player, we love Xavier. 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,” Morgan said.
Legette’s combination of size and speed was evident in his impressive 40-yard dash time of 4.39 seconds. It provided Head Coach Dave Canales with expanded strategic options on the field. Canales echoed Morgan’s sentiments by highlighting Legette’s versatility as a game-changer.
“The versatility is huge for us. 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,” Canales said per Panthers.com.
However, the Panthers decision to draft Xavier Legette reflects a strategic move to bolster their roster with a player whose skill set aligns with their vision for a competitive and versatile offense. Do you think that it was the right move? Let us know in the comments section.
