Legette missed practice Wednesday, with head coach Dave Canales noting afterward that the rookie "looked tight" the day before, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
The 32nd overall pick appears to be dealing with a minor muscular injury in his lower body. Assuming he doesn't miss too much time, Legette is in good position to earn plenty of snaps as a rookie within a Carolina offense that's badly in need of a downfield target to complement veteran possession receivers Adam Thielen and Diontae Johnson. The Panthers didn't get much from 2023 second-round pick Jonathan Mingo last season, but they went back to the well for a physically similar player this April, hoping Legette's 4.39-second 40-yard dash time in a 223-pound frame will translate to the NFL in a hurry.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Xavier Legette: Carolina surprises at 32nd pick
Rotowire
The Panthers selected Legette in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, 32nd overall.
Legette (6-foot-1, 223 pounds) is a uniquely explosive athlete (4.39-second 40, 40-inch vertical) for such a heavy receiver, and in 2023 his production at South Carolina went crazy as he made big play after big play downfield. He's more comfortable running in a straight line than sideways, which limits the number of ways you can get him the ball and makes it easier for defenses to stop him once opponents determine which parts of the field he'll avoid. While he showed great hands and even yards-after-the-catch ability in 2023, Legette might face more jamming troubles from NFL corners, which would threaten to delay his otherwise compelling downfield speed. Indeed, it's a red flag that he was so athletically explosive all along but couldn't produce until his fifth collegiate season. Given Bryce Young's 2023 struggles, it is in any case difficult to see much fantasy opportunity for Legette in 2024 specifically.
