2025 NFL Draft prospect profile – Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M

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)

Measurables

Kent Lee Platte | RAS.football

Strengths

Best traits

• Play strength
• First step
• Competitive toughness
• Hand usage
• Mental processing

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 the backfield before disengaging to pursue. Scourton isn’t speedy, but he takes efficient angles and is dogged getting after the ball carrier.

Weaknesses

Worst traits

• Long speed
• Bend
• Speed counters

Scourton’s primary weakness is an overall lack of length and a relatively stiff lower body for the position.

Scourton’s arms aren’t exactly short for the position at 33 inches, however he has less than ideal length at 6-foot 2 ¾ inches tall. While his length isn’t a consistent problem with his game, it does show up occasionally. Particularly long-armed and skilled offensive tackles can beat his pass rush moves and get their hands on him first, effectively blunting his rushes and making it very difficult for them to establish control.

As mentioned above, Scourton is primarily a power rusher, and his rushes frequently depend on accessing blockers’ chest plates. He can struggle mightily to get quick pressure or finish his rushes if he isn’t able to win the initial leverage battle or mitigate drag as he passes the line of scrimmage.

And while Scourton has good initial quickness and burst in his get-off, he lacks true speed counters to his power moves. He doesn’t really have the speed or acceleration to threaten blockers off the edge. He also lacks the fluidity in his lower body to consistently bend the edge and carry his speed into the backfield when attacking the outside. That can also compromise his natural leverage and expose his torso if he can’t stay low around the edge.

Game Tape

(Scourton is the TAMU edge defender wearing number 11 and long white sleeves.)

Projection

Nic Scourton projects as starting edge defender at the NFL level.

Whether he’s an every-down player or a primary part of an active rotation will likely depend on the situation into which he’s drafted. Teams that value speed off the edge and want penetrators to disrupt in the backfield could view Scourton as a third EDGE who rotates onto the field in relief of a starter or on run downs. On the flip side, defenses that prefer to use their linemen to occupy blockers and create opportunities for schemed pressure could view Scourton as a starter and every-down player.

Scourton has the versatility to be a classic 4-3 defensive end or a stand-up rusher in a 3-4 or “multiple” defense, which should help increase his value to teams. His versatility and overall ability should mean that he doesn’t have to wait all that long to hear his name called.

Does he fit the Giants?
Yes

Final Word: A late first or early second round value