Big Blue View
What will Scourton’s role be in the NFL?
This year’s class of edge defenders, and defensive linemen in general, is simply remarkably deep and talented. So much so that players who would be at the top of boards in other years are seemingly slipping through the cracks.
Texas A&M edge defender Nic Scourton was considered one of the top edge prospects in the nation when the 2024 season began. He was coming off of a breakout season at Purdue and transferred to Texas A&M. However, he fell off the national radar a bit when his production took a step back and he couldn’t follow up the 10.0 sacks and 15 tackles for a loss he had in 2023. He still had 14 tackles for a loss, but his sack production fell off to just 5.0, while other prospects surged.
That said, Scourton is a capable pass rusher as well as a reliable run defender. His power allows him to collapse pockets as a pass rusher as well as stack and shed blockers as a run defender.
Could that make him an attractive value pick for a team like the New York Giants if he slips out of the first round?
Prospect: Nic Scourton (11)
Games Watched: vs. Notre Dame (2024), vs. Missouri (2024), vs. LSU (2024), vs. Texas (2024)
Best traits
Nic Scourton is a compact and powerful edge defender who offers versatility and every-down upside for a defense.
Scourton is densely built at 6-foot, 2 ¾ inches tall and 257 pounds. He was listed at 280 pounds during the season, and it’s likely that he played closer to that weight than his Combine measurement.
He has obvious strength in his upper and lower body, and power is the strength of his game. Scourton has an efficient get-off, generally timing the snap well and wasting very little motion or energy getting into his rush. He has a good first step from both a 2 and 3-point stance and offers good explosion off the line of scrimmage. Scourton is primarily a power rusher and has tailored his game around his play strength and natural leverage. He uses a bull rush as his go-to pass rush move, though he will use swipes, a push-pull, or a very compact spin move against blockers who anchor against his power.
Scourton understands the importance of leverage and positioning in his game, and does a good job of attacking blockers’ hands to keep them from latching on and giving him access to their chest plate. He also does a good job of attacking half-man leverage to maximize his play strength.
Scourton’s strength and leverage help to make him a capable run defender as well. He’s able to set a firm edge against tackles or collapse the edge when matched against a tight end. He does a good job of diagnosing the run and tracking the ball in...
