With the Carolina Panthers in their final six-game stretch, it's time to take a closer look at how each rookie from this year's NFL draft class has performed.
Carolina's first-year group is seen as crucial for an organization with a first-time head coach and first-time general manager. The more they see time on the field, the better.
However, each rookie has different circumstances in terms of their play and how they're deployed.
Panthers Wire takes on a weekly rookie stock watch to examine how the team's youth performs to end the season.
And before we do so, here are the team's draft selections in order.
Round 1, No. 32 overall – Wide receiver Xavier Legette , South Carolina
Round 2, No. 46 overall – Running back Jonathon Brooks , Texas
Round 3, No. 72 overall – Linebacker Trevin Wallace , Kentucky
Round 4, No. 101 overall – Tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders, Texas
Round 5, No. 157 overall – Cornerback Chau Smith-Wade , Washington State
Round 6, No. 200 overall – Defensive tackle Jaden Crumedy , Mississippi State
Round 7, No. 240 overall – Linebacker Michael Barrett , Michigan*
Key undrafted free-agent signings – Wide receiver Jalen Coker , Holy Cross; safety Demani Richardson , Texas A&M
Note: The Panthers traded Barrett to the Seattle Seahawks during the preseason in exchange for cornerback Mike Jackson.
Legette has been what the Panthers have asked him to be, especially now as the team's X-receiver. He's quite effective on crossing routes and vertical planes while his ball skills have flashed in contested situations.
However, he's had some costly drops in recent weeks—most recently against the Kansas City Chiefs after botching a bucket vertical pass from Bryce Young on a go route.
His route running has grown and improved, as he continues to use his physicality in the contact window. Yet, the drops are concerning and could impact games later in the season.
We're going to give Legette a stock-down designation this week.
Stats(11 games): 33 receptions, 340 yards, four touchdowns
Brooks did not play at all this season until this past weekend, when he touched the ball on just two carries for seven yards. While this was not an impressive performance by any stretch, Brooks getting on the field is an easy stock-up designation.
Expect his playing time to increase, especially as he eases in off the recovery from his ACL tear .
Stats(1 game): two carries, seven yards
Wallace has been a steady presence since stepping in for Shaq Thompson , who went down with a torn Achilles four games in. He has had some strong starts, but has not been too high or too low.
There are flashes of brute physicality as a tackler and within his bull rush as a blitzer. His coverage instincts and ability in man have also been impressive this season. Against the Chiefs, he struggled to get off blocks—something that will be an area of improvement for next season and beyond.
Wallace had some quality man coverage reps, specifically against tight end Travis Kelce . While the box score may not indicate a solid game, the film said otherwise.
This deserves a stock-up designation for the former Kentucky Wildcat standout.
Stats(11 games): 30 tackles, two forced fumbles
Sanders left Sunday's game with a scary neck injury , but returned to the facility with a positive outlook and a chance to play in the next couple of weeks.
Despite the injury, the former Texas Longhorn has turned into a bright spot on the Panthers offense with his diverse receiving skill set. His long-term outlook is trending upward as the team's potential top tight end, at least for 2025.
Sanders made a couple of big catches against the Chiefs before his exit. Once he returns, he'll be another weapon for quarterback Bryce Young. We're giving a stock-up designation.
Stats(11 games): 29 receptions, 302 yards, one touchdown
Smith-Wade has been regulated to special teams after some inconsistent performances at nickel in recent weeks.
He is the backside gunner on kickoff coverage, lead attack field-goal blocker and jammer on punt returns. The effort from the fifth-round selection has been admirable, and he has had an impact on special teams.
With the lowly play from current nickel starter Dane Jackson, Smith-Wade could find himself back in the starting lineup or, at the very least, in the rotation. Until then, going from having significant snaps on defense to being regulated to special teams gives him a stock-down designation heading into Week 13.
Stats(10 games): 22 tackles
Crumedy has been inactive since being brought back from injured reserve. Because of the lack of playing time, he will not be given a designation.
Stats: N/A
The former Holy Cross playmaker did not play against the Chiefs due to a quad injury and will not play this upcoming weekend against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers .
However, we're going to give him a stock-up designation for his recent impact on the offense in the last several weeks. Coker's ball skills, route-running nuance and blocking ability have stood out.
Stats(7 games): 17 receptions, 263 yards, one touchdown
After starting a couple of games against the Denver Broncos and New Orleans Saints , Richardson returned to the bench upon Jordan Fuller 's return. The former Texas A&M captain was serviceable as a starter and has plenty of room for improvement. His energy and competitiveness have served him well on special teams.
We're giving Richardson a stock-up designation because of his team impact in the last four games, on both defense and special teams.
Stats(8 games): 24 tackles, one pass defensed
Panthers TE Ja'Tavion Sanders avoided a 'pretty bad' neck injury in Week 12
Panthers rookie WRs Xavier Legette, Jalen Coker providing some early hope
Despite growing pains, Xavier Legette is proving to be the future at WR for the Panthers
This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers 2024 rookie stock watch entering Week 13
