The Carolina Panthers enter the 2024 NFL Draft on April 25 with seven picks over the three-day draft.
The Panthers got things started Saturday on the final day of the draft by taking Texas tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders at No. 101. Carolina has three picks remaining.
On Friday night, the Panthers were active. First, they traded out of the 39th slot to 52 with the Rams. They also picked up the 155th pick in the fifth round and LA’s second-round pick in 2025. But before that pick arrived, the Panthers moved up to No. 46 in a trade with the Colts as Carolina gave up picks 52, 142 and 155. The Panthers then took RB Jonathon Brooks out of Texas.
They later selected Kentucky linebacker Trevin Wallace with the 72nd overall pick in the third round.
They made a move late Thursday night, trading into the first round for the No. 32 pick and took South Carolina receiver Xavier Legette. In trading with the Bills, the Panthers received Buffalo’s sixth-round pick at No. 200 and gave up a fifth-rounder (No. 141).
To kick off Night 2 of the draft, the Panthers made a trade with the Rams. Instead of picking 39th, Carolina moved back to 52 and also acquired the 155th overall pick in the fifth round and a second-round pick in 2025.
Keep coming back here throughout the draft for analysis and grades for each Panthers pick.
NFL Draft 2024 tracker: Live blog, picks and analysis
Big board best available: Who’s left from Dane Brugler’s Top 300?
Draft pick grades: Round 1 | Rounds 2-3
Full draft order: Team picks for all 257 selections
Round 1
No. 32: Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina
Dane Brugler’s analysis
A four-year starter at South Carolina, Legette was an inside/outside receiver in offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains’ scheme (64.6 percent wide, 34.0 percent slot in 2023). A quarterback out of necessity as a senior in high school, he was raw when he joined the Gamecocks and didn’t break out until his fifth season (he and Malik Nabers were the only two SEC players to average more than 100 yards receiving per game in 2023).
Legette is at his best on runway routes (verticals, posts, crossers) or sweeps and end-arounds that get his long-striding acceleration going. He doesn’t consistently shake tight man coverage, but he will use his size to play strong through contact.
Overall, Legette needs to continue developing his route proficiency and tempo, but his film gives off DK Metcalf vibes, and he has the explosive speed and physicality to be a matchup weapon. He should be an immediate contributor on special teams before competing for starting reps outside.
Joe Person’s analysis
Dave Canales sees Xavier Legette doing grown-man things for Panthers: ‘He’s done it all’
Carolina Panthers draft Xavier Legette: How he fits, pick grade and scouting intel
Nick Baumgardner’s grade: C+
Round 1 grades for all 32 picks
Round 2
No. 46 (from Colts): Jonathon Brooks, RB, Texas
Dane Brugler’s analysis
A one-year starter at Texas, Brooks emerged as the Longhorns’ go-to back in head coach Steve Sarkisian’s spread RPO offense, which utilizes both zone and gap principles. After two years behind Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson, he put together an All-America-level season in 2023 prior to suffering a torn ACL (ranked top five in the FBS in rushing at the time of his injury).
Despite a wide gait and long legs, Brooks is a controlled, instinctive runner who forces missed tackles with his subtle ability to set up defenders and string together moves with timely, sharp cuts. He can be inconsistent in short-yardage situations but offers third-down value with his promise as a blocker and natural pass-catching traits.
Overall, Brooks is a springy, balanced athlete with a feel for lane development and the elusive traits to create his own yardage, both at the line of scrimmage and on the second level. Stylistically, he reminds me of Kenyan Drake, although Brooks has much better vision and big-play potential (assuming he returns to his pre-injury form).
Joe Person’s analysis
Carolina Panthers draft Jonathon Brooks: How he fits, pick grade and scouting intel
Nick Baumgardner’s grade: B-
Grades for all Round 2 and 3 picks
Round 3
No. 72: Trevin Wallace, LB, Kentucky
Dane Brugler’s analysis
A two-year starter at Kentucky, Wallace played Will linebacker in defensive coordinator Brad White’s 4-2-5 base scheme. The top-ranked recruit in the Wildcats’ 2021 class, he made steady strides each of the last three seasons and ranked top 10 in the SEC with 6.7 tackles per game in 2023.
A balanced athlete in space, Wallace has the speed to pursue plays all over the field and is one of the best linebackers in this class at mirroring backs to the sideline when plays flow wide. Though not super instinctive versus the run or pass, he follows basic keys to the spot and has the athletic range to stay on the field on third down.
Overall, Wallace has an attractive collection of traits for today’s NFL, however, the parts are better than the whole at this point and pro coaching will need to get him across the finish line. With more seasoning, he has the talent to compete for starting reps.
Joe Person’s analysis
Panthers get a RB, LB and at least one dawg on trade-filled second night
Nick Baumgardner’s grade: C+
Grades for all Round 2 and 3 picks
Round 4
No. 101: Ja’Tavion Sanders, TE, Texas
Dane Brugler’s analysis
A two-year starter at Texas, Sanders was a multi-dimensional tight end in Sarkisian’s spread, RPO offense (62.1 percent of his career snaps came inline). He needed only two seasons to become the Longhorns all-time leader among tight ends in catches (99), and his 68.9 percent first-down/touchdown rate in 2023 is the best among the tight ends in this draft class. A true three-level receiving threat, Sanders has the athletic talent of a wide receiver and boxes out downfield to command the catch point (No. 2 among FBS tight ends with 12 catches of 20-plus yards in 2023, one behind Brock Bowers). Though he is a functional on-the-move blocker because of his range and pop, he needs to put more of a premium on leverage and positioning for him to survive as an NFL blocker.
Overall, Sanders needs to become “more available” in his routes and improve his reliability as a blocker, but he is a smooth operator with dynamic talent before, during and after the catch. He projects as an F tight end (similar to Gerald Everett) with starting upside in the NFL.
Joe Person’s quick analysis
The Panthers have a couple of nice blocking TEs. Now they have a guy in Ja’Tavion Sanders who can be a big-time, receiving TE. And he’s the third weapon for Bryce Young in the first four picks.
Round 5
No. 157
Round 6
No. 200 (from Bills)
Round 7
No. 240 (via Steelers)
(Photo of Ja’Tavion Sanders: Kevin Sabitus / Getty Images)
