On Titans QB Malik Willis's performance against the Vikings

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) Carolina Panthers new coach Dave Canales has emphasized to Bryce Young that he shouldnt feel as if he has to do it all by himself this upcoming season.Carolina backed up that talk by continuing to put more players around Young to make the young QBs job easier.The Panthers used three of their first four picks on skill position players, selecting South Carolina wide receiver Xavier Legette in the first round and running back Jonathon Brooks and tight end JaTavion Sanders from Texas in the second and fourth rounds in hopes of bolstering an offense that finished last in the league in scoring and yards.Along the way, new Panthers general manager Dan Morgan used a series Lance Robinson Jersey of trades four in the first two days to restock the teams draft capital.ADVERTISEMENT Carolina entered this years draft with no first-round pick after former GM Scott Fitterer traded away four picks last year to get Young, including what ended up being the No. 1 overall selection. Morgan managed to get one of those picks back a second-rounder in 2025 in one of the deals.I didnt come in saying weve got to get that (second-round pick) back, he said. When it presented itself, we thought it was a really good opportunity. Hey, we can get that two back. I would say we felt good about that. ... That kind of set us up for the future a little bit.The Panthers also selected Kentucky linebacker Trevin Wallace in the third round, Washington State Akeem Davis-gaither Jersey cornerback Chau Smith-Wade in the fifth, Mi si sippi State defensive tackle Jaden Crumedy in the sixth and Michigan linebacker Michael Barrett in the seventh.LEGETTES QUICK CLIMBLegette didnt exceed 18 catches in a season during his first four years at South Carolina. However, the 6-foot-2, 221-pound wideout emerged from the shadows this past season with 71 receptions for 1,255 yards and seven touchdowns, going from relative unknown to first-round draft pick.A year ago, I wasnt on anybodys board, but I never let that get to me, Legette said. I knew I had another year.BUCKING THE TRENDBrooks was the first running back off the board at No. 46. It was the second-longest wait for a running back to be selected in the NFL draft behind Bishop Sankey, who was taken No. 54 in Jeff Gunter Jersey 2014.While , the Panthers say they still place an emphasis on them. Every team that I have been on, we used all of our running backs at different points because its just such a violent position, Canales said. We look for those players who can handle that. But we are going to run the ball. Its going to be a non-negotiable for us. This gives us a real chance to add another good runner to the mix.Brooks will battle with Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders for playing time.ATHLETIC FREAKMorgan drew on his own background as a Panthers linebacker to select Wallace in the third round.Athletic freak, a guy that can run sideline to sideline, strike ball carriers, and I think his ceiling is really high, Morgan said. I think hes a guy thats going to develop, Trey Hill Jersey keep developing and turn into a good linebacker for us.EDGE RUSHERSEdge rusher was considered a need for Carolina entering the draft even after addre sing that in free agency, but the team didnt draft one.We identified some holes coming into the draft, coming into free agency, Morgan said. Listen, you cant fill every single hole all at once, whether free agency, the draft, you wish you could. But were still building this thing.TEXAS TWO-STEPThe Panthers hadnt drafted a player from Texas since their initial draft in 1995 when they selected offensive tackle Blake Brockermeyer in the first round. This year, they took two Longhorns (Brooks and Sanders) in their first four picks.HORNS FIFTH YEARIt flew mostly under the radar because of the NFL draft, but the Panthers quietly announced they picked up the fifth-year option on cornerback Jaycee Horns contract. The first-round pick in 2021 has been good when hes played, but has been limited to just 22 Lawrence Guy Jersey of a po sible 51 games because of injuries.Hes had some tough stretches with injuries, but its not due to a lack of work or a lack of commitment from Jaycee, Morgan said.___AP NFL: