North Charlotte Today

CHARLOTTE — The Carolina Panthers' seven-man rookie draft class has experienced a whirlwind over the past month. Since NFL draft weekend, rookies have moved to Charlotte, gone through rookie minicamp and OTAs, mandatory minicamp, and have now returned to the Queen City for training camp.

As the rookie draft class works through their first offseason, each will take time to reflect on their journey to this point and their time in the league thus far. Three rookies took us along through OTAs and mandatory minicamp, and now the rest of the class will take us along through training camp.

Last up is receiver Xavier Legette. The South Carolina product was the Panthers' lone first-round pick (No. 32 overall) and one the club traded into the first round to draft. The Panthers traded with the Buffalo Bills to draft Legette with the final pick of the first night.

"Draft night, I had all my close immediate family there with me and some of my close partners at the house with me. Just patiently waiting for my name to get called. I knew it was coming, I just didn't know when. And then when (general manager) Dan Morgan called me and asked how I feel about them trading up, I told my folks, we all were happy to see it."

"Really and truly, I didn't know I was going to be a Panther. My agent, he was telling me my range was 20 through Friday. And I knew the Panthers was in between that range and a couple other teams was in between that range as well. When I saw it was the Bills, and then it was a little bit of waiting time. I think it was like eight minutes. And then between those eight minutes, they called me and was like how do I feel about them trading up for me."

One of the main reasons the Panthers wanted to trade into the first round for Legette was to give the club a fifth-round option on the promising young receiver. Being a first-round receiver also means a more lucrative contract for the rookie.

"The money don't faze me. I'm just really excited and blessed to be in the NFL because I'm really like the first of many coming from where I come from to be able to be in this position and this is all I ever wanted to do since I've been a little boy. So really and truly, I'm just excited to be in the league."

Legette participated in rookie minicamp, OTAs, and every other part of the offseason program. The mere two-hour drive from his hometown of Mullins wasn't his only adjustment made easier by coming from South Carolina; familiarity with Dowell Loggains' offense at college also helped.

"The adjustment, it was kind of fast at first but playing in this playbook; it's the same playbook I had at college. So I'm really familiar with concepts we've been putting in," said Legette.

He added: "Some of our routes are based off steps rather than depth... if you take a step shorter or too far you'll bust up whole play."

"I wouldn't necessarily say it was big jump (when veterans returned), but it good for me because able see how guys Diontae Johnson Adam Thielen were moving... trying implement things they do game into mine ways getting open."

Every rookie has one "Welcome-to-the-NFL" moment though Legette isn't sure if he's experienced his yet despite having reality checks since entering NFL; his personality accent captivated fans Carolina something admits still hard grasp:

"It hasn't hit yet but every time when fans come here tell like accent all that... what we do who keep them excited help energy bring game day."

"My welcome-to-the-NFL moment? Really don't think had yet guessing need play game first thought going (first paycheck hit) IRS took most that."