Bryce Young opens up on what Xavier Legette brings with size, speed

The Carolina Panthers entered the 2024 NFL Draft without a first-round selection, but traded up to select South Carolina wide receiver Xavier Legette with the last pick of the first round at No. 32 overall. As they’ll now look upon the physically gifted pass catcher to help strengthen a passing attack that ranked last in the NFL in yards per game through the air last season.

Legette joins forces with second-year quarterback and former No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young, who recently opened up at OTAs about growing chemistry with his new weapon on the outside.

“I think really with any receiver there’s a learning curve, everyone does things a little differently, everyone moves a little differently, cuts a little differently, has different tenancies, things they like and don’t like,” Young explained. “And as a quarterback it’s our job to figure that out, to make sure that we can cater to that. Obviously there’s concepts, there’s timing that the coaches put in, but we have to take that all into consideration.”

Young struggled last season in his rookie year throwing for just 2,877 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. Also sacked 62 times to represent the NFL’s second-most sacked quarterback in the league. And while Legette won’t be blocking pass rushers, the Panthers are hoping he can help Young out my replicating his latest breakout college season where he caught 71 passes for 1,255 yards and seven touchdowns.

“Now being able to be around Xav for a couple days, just like you said, that combination of size, speed, how explosive he is, the way he comes out of routes. Yeah, it’s definitely something that I gotta get used to,” Young admitted. “We’re working on getting that timing down but I’m super excited.”

“He’s done a lot of great things, great guy, great attitude. So again, we’re in that process of building.”

Legette ran a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine at 6-foot-1, 221 pounds. Size and speed that Young will likely not mind getting used to as he’ll look to have a bounce-back season with new rookie playmakers like Legette, running back Jonathon Brooks, and tight end JT Sanders.