The Kansas City Chiefs are predicted to pick a wide receiver within the first two or three rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft.
During the offseason, various WR prospects have been linked to KC, but a recent popular draft riser has been gaining momentum as the big weekend approaches — South Carolina playmaker Xavier Legette. The April 10 Mel Kiper Jr. mock draft with ESPN even had the Chiefs choosing Legette as early as No. 32 overall.
On April 20, Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine penned an article alerting teams about potential draft targets, and he singled out Legette when it came to warning Kansas City.
“It’s a wide receiver’s dream to be drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs,” Ballentine began. “Getting to play with the NFL’s best quarterback-head coach combo is an ideal scenario, especially when that team needs a wide receiver. But it’s important to remember why the Chiefs need a receiver.”
“Skyy Moore and Kadarius Toney were both young, exciting prospects who haven’t reached their potential as projects,” the analyst continued. And you could throw Mecole Hardman into that conversation too.
“Even in the Chiefs’ explosive offense, it takes the right receivers to make things work,” Ballentine noted, and he fears that Legette’s lack of route-running “refinement” could turn him into another KC disappointment at wide receiver.
“He is not skilled at battling at the line of scrimmage, nor is he a developed route-runner who can mix up his approach to keep defensive backs guessing,” Bleacher Report scouting expert Derrik Klassen stated, regarding Legette.
Instead, Ballentine recommended that the Chiefs target a more “polished” receiver like Georgia’s Ladd McConkey, or a new left tackle prospect to compete with Wanya Morris in 2024.
Ex-NFL QB Robert Griffin III Calls Xavier Legette ‘Match Made in Heaven’ With Chiefs
Legette is becoming a polarizing fit in Kansas City. Some seem to adore the youngster as another perfect weapon for Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid, while others like Ballentine are cautious.
“Xavier Legette on the @Chiefs would be a perfect match,” former NFL quarterback turned analyst Robert Griffin III voiced on April 18.
Adding: “Andy Reid covets versatility and Leggette played outside and in the slot at [South Carolina]. Give Mahomes a guy who can turn a slant into a 60-yard TD and Xavier could be that anchor leg to help them run down a 3 peat.”
On that note, NFL Network draft expert Lance Zierlein highlighted Legette’s “sneaky burst” and “stealth acceleration.” He also scouted Legette’s size, play strength and contested catch ability as major positives to his game.
But the question remains, is Legette a one-hit wonder?
Xavier Legette Only Had 1 Productive College Season
Legette is certainly not a safe prospect by any means. That doesn’t mean he won’t succeed at the NFL level, but there will be risk attached if any team selects the South Carolina product in round one or two.
The 6-foot-1 pass-catcher did not tally over 200 receiving yards in a single season from 2019 through 2022. Then, as a fifth-year senior, Legette exploded with 71 catches for 1,255 yards and seven touchdowns.
However, the former Gamecock also never received 30 targets in any season before 2023, so it could be argued that his low production was due to a lack of chances.
Ultimately, the Legette discussion may hinge on where he’s selected. If the Chiefs were to pick him at No. 32 overall — as Kiper anticipated — that might be seen as a stretch across the league.
If he falls close to being picked in the second round, though, that might not be so negative.
Legette is a physical, athletic asset who can make big plays with the ball. The key is to create opportunities for him and improve his skills. If Kansas City were to use a high draft pick on the breakout star of 2023, it would indicate their confidence in their ability to develop him for the long term.
