A Patriots Fan's Wish List for Day 2: Texas A&M Edge Rusher Nic Scourton
Icon Sportswire. Getty Images.Current roster: Anfernee Jennings, Harold Landry
Positional overview: In Mike Vrabel's introductory press conference, he made a few points clear. How clear? Crystal. First, is that he intends to build this team from the line of scrimmage, out. Second, is that he plans to make it his priorities to give his quarterback time to throw while making it hard for opponents to do the same for their QBs. And third, that he wants his guys to play with violence. Since the team he took over was uniquely bad in all of these areas in 2024, his goals are noble, to say the least. Among the worst at pass protection, dead last in pressuring quarterbacks, and generally playing a passive style like they'd signed a non-aggression pact with the other side of the line. One the enemy kept violating.
To that, I present you with this potential solutions to all your problems. (Note that this presumes Abdul Carter is going to be off the board by the fourth pick. If he's still available, I get my selection in so fast it'll bend space-time.)
Nic Scorton, Texas A&M. 6-foot-4, 285 pounds, 4.70 40-time
The Patriots used one of their Top 30 visits on Scourton, and you can see why. I'm going on a few assumptions here. One is that Vrabel wants to employ a similar scheme to the one he excelled at in New England. Which is one that relies on edge players with a certain size/speed profile. The rule of 6-4, 4-6. Meaning 6'4" or bigger, 4.60 or faster. Guys who aren't specialists, but capable of rushing the passer on one down, occasionally dropping into flat/curl coverage on the next, while always, always, always, being able to hold up at the point of attack on the edge and turn plays back inside.
Scourton checks all those boxes. OK, perhaps a 10th of a second slower than ideal. No one's arguing he's a quick-twitch penetrator like Carter is. But he's huge, strong, can change direction with quickness to pursue a ball carrier, and comes equipped to plug and play at the next level, with an assorted 12-pack variety case of NFL-ready moves:
Above all else, Scourton plays with a streak meaner than any White Lotus character ever. I might even say, he puts the "scour" in "Scourton," if I didn't have a shred of dignity. But I do. So I won't.
As far as versatility, he's played in both 30- and 40-fronts. Standing up and with his hand in the Field Turf. And is a 3-down player.
He's also got experience, with 37 career games. Over the past two seasons he amassed a dozen sacks, 10 QB hits and 56 total pressures in 579 pass rush snaps. But still won't be able to legally buy a drink until August 25th. Since that happens to be my birthday as well, I'll gladly accept his first one right after practice if the Pats draft him.
NFL.com's scouting profile makes a couple of player comps for him. One is Trey Hendrickson. The other comes from a scout who says, “He plays his tail off and he’s always in the middle of everything. He’s a force player like George Karlaftis was coming out, but Scourton has a little more rush.” I'm not comparing Scourton to a guy who had 17.5 sacks last year or the 30th overall pick in 2022. That's the league's official site doing that.
What I am suggesting is he might be very much in reach of the Patritots with their second round pick, No. 38. In fact, Mock Draft Database currently has Scourton as 39th on their Consensus Big Board. Which is an average of all the major mocks. To be fair, he's considered a first round selection on 63.9% of them, because that's how averages work. But he's within their grasp, with a move-up trade, if possible. Assuming they can't get Carter (I am) and add a piece for Drake Maye at No. 4 (I hope), you could do a lot worse than take this guy as a consolation prize at a huge area of need.