The Carolina Panthers may have found a real edge threat in Nic Scourton, and the setup around him is starting to look a lot more dangerous.
After a rookie season that flashed real promise, Scourton is being pegged as a breakout candidate for 2026, with ESPN’s Ben Solak pointing to the second-year pass rusher as a player who could make a major jump. That comes after Scourton led the Panthers’ pass rush last season with five sacks, a notable feat on a defense that still has plenty of room to grow.
"The best pass rusher on the Panthers last season was Scourton, a 21-year-old rookie," Solak wrote. "Of course, being the Panthers' best pass rusher wasn't much to write home about. Scourton's pressure rate was 9.2%, well below the league average for starting edge rushers (12.6%).
"But he was always considered more of a developmental pick, given his youth and long transition out of the Texas A&M defense and into more of an attacking role with the pros."
Even so, the production was there. Scourton played in 17 games, started eight of them, and finished with 47 tackles, five sacks and one forced fumble. For a player still early in his NFL climb, that’s a solid foundation to build on.
The Panthers are hoping the next step comes quickly, especially with Jaelan Phillips now in the mix. Solak believes that pairing could make life easier for Scourton and open the door for more splash plays.
"Now that Scourton will play opposite Jaelan Phillips, he should get easier assignments," Solak wrote.
"He's also more likely to get cleanup opportunities given Phillips' style as a pocket-pushing bull rusher. Scourton doesn't seem far off from a step forward; there's plenty of good technique, both against the run and in the rush."
That kind of help could be exactly what defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero needs. Carolina has been searching for a more consistent pass rush in recent seasons, and adding Phillips alongside Scourton gives the unit a chance to look very different this fall.
The Panthers are coming off a season in which they won the NFC South and pushed the Los Angeles Rams in the Wild-Card Round before falling 34-31. They did it with an 8-9 record, which makes the next step pretty clear: turn the division title into a winning season.
That’s part of what makes 2026 such an important year for Bryce Young, but the defense may be just as central to Carolina’s progress. If Scourton takes the leap Solak expects, the Panthers might finally have the sack artist they’ve been waiting for.
In Other News...
Former Panthers Insider Just Sent A Strong Bryce Young Message
Bryce Youngs next chapter in Carolina is drawing plenty of attention, and one former Panthers voice thinks the setup around him is better than it has been in a while. Marty Hurney, who once ran the franchises front office, sounded upbeat in a recent interview about Young and the direction of the offense, pointing to Dave Canales confidence in the quarterbacks skill set and the improved roster around him.
For Young, the timing matters. He is entering his fourth season with real pressure to show he can be the long-term answer and put himself in position for a contract extension, and the Panthers are hoping the stability of Canales system helps bring out more consistency. Hurney also mentioned Jonathon Brooks as part of the broader optimism, another sign that Carolina sees more upside on offense than it has had in recent years. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Defense Still Has One Problem At Nearly Every Level
The Panthers made real progress on defense last season, climbing from the bottom of the league to the middle of the pack in total defense, but the unit still has a lot of sorting out to do before training camp. The front is the clearest example: Derrick Brown remains the anchor, yet Carolina may need meaningful help around him after A'Shawn Robinsons release and Tershawn Whartons neck injury left the group thinner than it looked a few months ago.
There are similar questions just about everywhere else. Jaelan Phillips gives the outside linebacker room a boost, but the depth behind him is still being evaluated, Trevin Wallace is under pressure to hold his spot at inside linebacker behind Devin Lloyd, and the slot cornerback job is open enough to keep the competition alive. Even at safety, there is still a sense that the Panthers are looking for the right fit, which is why this defense feels improved but not quite settled. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers May Need A Bigger Backfield Swing Than Fans Expected
As the Panthers look ahead to 2026, the running game remains one of the clearest areas where a roster upgrade could change the conversation. The idea gaining traction is not a minor depth move, either, but the kind of backfield swing that would signal Carolina wants more proven production and a more reliable weekly threat on offense.
The speculation centers on whether New Orleans would ever even entertain moving a veteran runner to a division rival, which already makes the whole discussion feel remote. Still, the fit is easy to understand from Carolinas side: the Panthers need answers in the backfield, and any pursuit of a trade would come with the larger question of whether the Saints would be willing to help a team they see twice a year. [Read more 🡒]