Greg Olsen gives passionate speech at Panthers practice

In addition to giving them the kind of wide receiver they lacked on the roster, the Panthers also bought an extra year of cost certainty by trading into the end of the first round to take him.

The Panthers made a trade on Thursday night, sneaking into the first round, selecting wide receiver Xavier Legette. 

When you're not chosen in the first round, you have to be patient. And you have to be prepared to be misled, cussed at, and worried about disappointing the family members who came to celebrate.

As the Panthers prepare for this weekend's NFL draft, those in the wide receiver group try to keep their head down, but with an eye and ear on the draft that could change their room. 

The Panthers coach was running around getting a workout, and then immediately shifting gears to final work on prospects. Plus more from Wednesday's voluntary minicamp.

Here's how to tune in to this week's NFL Draft.  

The veteran lineman was moved inside with the acquisition of a pair of top free agents, but the qualities that got him to the NFL have seemingly pointed him here for years.

Dave Canales kicks off his first minicamp by putting Bryce Young and Andy Dalton in QB school, sticking to basics with detailed teaching. The Panthers also had near perfect attendance on a perfect day. 

The rookie head coach grinned and admitted it was "cool" to be the guy with the whistle, but he also worked his way methodically and intentionally through his first session of voluntary minicamp.

The second-year quarterback will lead his team onto the field for voluntary minicamp today with a new coaching staff, and he'll do it with an awareness of the steps he needs to take to improve.

Check out who a collection of media outlets are projecting as the best 33rd and 39th picks of the 2024 NFL Draft.

From the comings and goings at outside linebacker to free agency signings, the Panthers made a series of moves that have set up a different outlook for the draft. Here's a look at the defensive needs.