The Carolina Panthers may have found one of the biggest steals of the 2024 NFL Draft, and according to a prominent league analyst, the rest of the NFL might not realize it until it’s too late. The player drawing early praise isn’t one of the headline-grabbing first-rounders or flashy offensive weapons, but rather a lesser-hyped prospect whose skill set and fit within Carolina’s scheme could allow him to emerge as a true breakout star.
In a recent segment on NFL Network, analyst Daniel Jeremiah singled out the Panthers’ mid-round selection as his top sleeper pick, saying, “This is the guy people are going to look back on in a year and say, ‘How did he fall that far?’ He’s walking into the perfect situation, and the Panthers got themselves an instant contributor—maybe even a star.”
While Jeremiah didn’t initially name names in the teaser portion of the segment, it quickly became clear he was referring to Xavier Legette, the wide receiver out of South Carolina whom the Panthers drafted in the second round. Though Legette had a productive final college season and impressed with his physical traits at the combine, he wasn’t projected by many to make a splash so quickly in the NFL. Jeremiah, however, sees things differently.
“Legette has all the tools you want in a modern NFL receiver—size, speed, toughness, and the ability to make plays after the catch,” Jeremiah explained. “What I love most is how he competes. He plays with a chip on his shoulder, and in a young offense like Carolina’s, he’s going to get opportunities right away.”
The Panthers are in the midst of a rebuild with second-year quarterback Bryce Young at the helm and a new offensive-minded head coach in Dave Canales. Legette’s presence adds a different dimension to the offense—a physical, downhill receiver with explosiveness who can stretch the field and fight for contested catches. With the team parting ways with veteran wideout DJ Chark and looking to build a more dynamic passing game around Young, Legette is expected to see early snaps and significant targets.
Veteran Panthers beat writers have echoed Jeremiah’s
