Panthers trade up to land Legette with last pick of 1st round

The Carolina Panthers traded up one spot with the Buffalo Bills to select South Carolina wide receiver Xavier Legette with the last pick of the first round of the NFL draft.

The Panthers sent the 33rd and 141st overall selections to Buffalo for the 32nd and 200th overall picks.

Legette was a monster for the Gamecocks in 2023, totaling 71 catches for 1,255 yards and seven touchdowns. He secured second-team All-SEC honors, and he and Malik Nabers were the only players in the conference to average more than 100 yards receiving per game.

The 23-year-old has freak athleticism for a 6-foot-1, 221-pound receiver, running a 4.39 40-yard dash.

Legette will join a wide receiver room that includes Diontae Johnson, Adam Thielen, and Jonathan Mingo.

Pre-draft profile

Legette has the goods that'll make NFL scouts bang the table for him. Not only does he have the size to dominate, but he also has great speed for his frame. This is reflected on his tape, where Legette stretches the field before making contested catches on opposing cornerbacks. While his hands are impressive, Legette is also an above-average route-runner who can work the middle of the field and in the short game. Legette can be a downfield contested-catch winner with the potential to attack all areas of the field. The only question will be his production, as he never produced over 170 receiving yards until breaking out in his fifth season in 2023.