<
        >

          NFL Nation

          Carolina Panthers 2024 NFL draft picks: Selection analysis

          play
          Xavier Legette's NFL draft profile (0:53)

          Check out some of the top highlights from South Carolina WR Xavier Legette. (0:53)

          • David Newton, ESPN Staff WriterApr 26, 2024, 07:54 PM ET
            Close
              David Newton is an NFL reporter at ESPN and covers the Carolina Panthers. Newton began covering Carolina in 1995 and came to ESPN in 2006 as a NASCAR reporter before joining NFL Nation in 2013. You can follow Newton on Twitter at @DNewtonespn.
            Follow on X

          CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The 2024 NFL draft (ESPN, ABC, ESPN App) began Thursday night in Detroit and will wrap up on Saturday. The Carolina Panthers are scheduled to make seven of the draft's 257 picks, beginning with pick No. 32 after trading into Round 1.

          ESPN will provide pick-by-pick analysis of each of the Panthers' selections as they are made.

          A look at each of Carolina's scheduled selections:

          Analysis of every pick | Updated depth chart

          Round 1, No. 32 overall: Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina (via Buffalo)

          My take: Coach Dave Canales said it best: Legette brings versatility. The Panthers absolutely fell in love with Legette's ability to make plays all over the field, from catching passes to jet sweeps to kick returns. That versatility at a skill position is something Bryce Young didn't have last season, so this adds a unique weapon to take pressure off the second-year quarterback. He is also big (6-foot-1, 221 pounds) and fast (4.39 40), unlike any other Carolina receiver. He's a perfect fit for what Canales wants to create with the pass and run games.

          Will he start as a rookie?: While Canales said Legette has a ways to go, his versatility should put him on the field with starters Diontae Johnson and Adam Thielen. And he should get the nod over Jonathan Mingo, who was inconsistent at best as a rookie last year. The versatility that Canales "loves" is something they want to build around offensively.

          Key stat: Legette had 10 catches on throws of 30-plus air yards last season at South Carolina, tied for the second-most in FBS. The Panthers had one reception on throws of 30-plus air yards last season, the fewest in a season since the Bengals had zero in 2020.

          What's next: Center, corner, tight end and edge rusher remain priorities.

          Remaining picks

          Round 2: No. 52 (from Rams)

          Round 3: No. 65

          Round 4: No. 101

          Round 5: No. 142 (from Tennessee)

          Round 5: No. 155 (from LA Rams)

          Round 6: No. 200 (from Buffalo)

          Round 7: No. 240 (from Pittsburgh)