By Mike Kaye
The Carolina Panthers added a much-needed pass rusher to their depth chart following a trade Friday.
During the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Panthers traded up to the 51st overall pick to select Texas A&M pass rusher Nic Scourton.
Carolina sent the No. 57 (second round), No. 74 (third), No. 111 (fourth) and No. 230 (seventh) picks to the Denver Broncos for the No. 51 (second), No. 85 (third), No. 122 (fourth) and No. 208 (sixth) picks. The Panthers no longer have a seventh-round selection following the draft swap.
Scourton, a Bryan, Texas, native, was the seventh player at his position selected during draft weekend. Carolina running back Chuba Hubbard announced the pick in Green Bay, Wisconsin, at the draft event.
The 6-foot-3, 257-pound outside linebacker is coming off a one-year tenure with the Aggies. The 20-year-old produced 37 combined tackles (14 for loss) and five sacks during that tenure. He went through a major weight transformation during his time at Texas A&M, dropping from 285 pounds to 275 pounds during the season. He told local media following his selection that his trainers were able to refine his diet enough to get him down to 257 pounds at the NFL Scouting Combine in February.
“I’m a younger player, so just growing into my body, building those right muscles, getting stronger, understanding my body — I think it’ll help a lot,” Scourton said. “I’m quicker, I’m faster, I’m stronger — better conditioned. I just think it’s going to help me a lot in the long-term.”
Scourton, who won’t turn 21 until August, started his college football career at Purdue, where he played for two seasons. In 25 games with the Boilermakers, Scourton produced 72 tackles (17 for loss), 12 sacks and two forced fumbles.
In Carolina, Scourton will be expected to compete for snaps with D.J. Wonnum, Patrick Jones and Jadeveon Clowney. He will also face competition from 2023 third-round pick D.J. Johnson.
“I think I can add a lot to the defense by just being myself and coming in and working hard and getting around the vets and just getting better,” Scourton said.
Scourton said following his selection that he is capable of playing multiple positions along the defensive front and hopes to learn from his veteran teammates. He listed two-time Super Bowl champion Brandon Graham, formally of the Philadelphia Eagles, as someone he models his game after.
“I think I’m a very instinctive player,” Scourton said. “But also being a very smart player, you can see I’m thinking on the field. And I think I’m very physical, so I think I’ll fit right right in.”
This story was originally published April 25, 2025 at 8:49 PM.
Mike Kaye covers the Carolina Panthers for The Charlotte Observer. Kaye previously covered the entire NFL for Pro Football Network, the Philadelphia Eagles for NJ Advance Media and the Jacksonville Jaguars for First Coast News. He is a graduate of the University of North Florida.
