How quickly can Panthers rookies Scourton, Umanmielen make impact on defense?
The Carolina Panthers are slowly but surely inching closer to their annual training camp in Uptown Charlotte.
As Dave Canales and his roster prepare for an eventful slate of summer practices, The Observer is breaking down the Carolina depth chart with in-depth analysis.
After taking a look at the inside linebacker room on Wednesday, our attention turns to the upside-heavy outside linebacker group, which features a pair of promising veterans and a couple of notable draft picks.
Will rookie duo contribute immediately?
The Panthers were aggressive on Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft, trading up twice to secure a pair of promising pass rushers.
Nic Scourton, the team’s second-round pick, is a 20-year-old edge-setter who has the ability to play in multiple spots. Princely Umanmielen, the team’s third-round pick, is a quick and athletic pass rusher who should be able to find a role relatively quickly in sub-packages.
Scourton, who received a first-round grade from Panthers evaluators, has dropped roughly 25 pounds since the start of his lone season at Texas A&M. His narrower frame is expected to boost his speed while maintaining his strength. Scourton is likely to play early downs as soon as Week 1 because of his projected strength as a run defender. That trait should give him a high floor at the outside linebacker position, especially as a rookie.
Umanmielen’s run-defending chops are a bit more understated. While he is capable of setting an edge, he is more likely to maintain an early role as a rotational pass rusher. That outlook shouldn’t be scoffed at, either, because it’ll enable him to have an immediate impact within the defense.
Scourton and Umanmielen should also benefit from the departure of Jadeveon Clowney, who was released in May. With Clowney gone, Patrick Jones and D.J. Wonnum are expected to get the first crack at the starting outside linebacker jobs.
Scourton and/or Umanmielen could potentially disrupt that projection by having strong summer performances, hypothetically leapfrogging Wonnum and/or Jones in the process.
Ultimately, the Panthers’ pass rushing exploits will be largely handled by a four-man rotation. Wonnum, Jones, Scourton and Umanmielen should all see regular action, regardless of who gets anointed as starters.
Panthers’ outside linebacker depth chart
The projected starters: Jones and Wonnum — As previously stated, this projection is more about labels than actual statuses — there will be a heavy rotation at the position in 2025.
Wonnum and Jones are expected to lead the position group as de facto veterans. Wonnum is coming off a strong second half of last season, while Jones was signed to a two-year deal in March.
The pair is quite complementary, too, as Wonnum is more of a pass rusher, while Jones is a jack of all trades edge-setter. Wonnum produced four sacks in eight games last year, while Jones picked up a career-high seven sacks in his final season in Minnesota. Both players started their careers with the Vikings, and they have an established relationship after playing three years together in the NFC North.
Wonnum is entering the final year of his deal, and Jones is making low-level starter money. Both players have room to grow, and a big year for either (or both) could lead to increased pay for them and more success for the Panthers.
The projected backups: Scourton and Umanmielen — It’s going to be difficult for Wonnum and Jones to keep the rookies on the sideline this season. While defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero hasn’t been quick to play rookies during his tenure, those previous first-year players had notable talent ahead of them in the pecking order.
From the outside looking in, Scourton and Umanmielen should be able to play early and often. And frankly, Evero seems to be very excited about the rookie duo, as they both fit the size, weight, length and speed traits that he tends to prefer.
It wouldn’t be surprising to see Scourton and/or Umanmielen at the top of the depth chart by season’s end. That outcome would be optimal for the organization.
The competition: D.J. Johnson, Thomas Incoom, Amare Barno, Boogie Basham and Mapalo Mwansa — Johnson, the team’s 2023 third-round pick, is going to be pushed heavily this summer. He will need to earn a spot on the roster, as the Day 2 scholarship has been voided by upgrades to the depth chart.
Johnson has four players notably ahead of him at the position. And while his pass rushing skills have been non-existent through two seasons, his saving grace has been his edge-setting output. He will need to carve out a sub-package role as a run defender to stick around.
Barno, who just underwent a procedure on his knee, is likely to be eased into action for a second consecutive summer. While he has better special teams chops than Johnson, he’s been similarly limited as a defender over the past three years. Though, in contrast to Johnson, Barno is more of a pass rusher than a run defender.
Incoom is a practice-squad holdover who received some playing time due to injury last year. Basham is a journeyman veteran with a tie to general manager Dan Morgan from their shared time in Buffalo. As of now, they’re long shots to make the 53-man roster out of training camp.
Mwansa, the team’s international pathway program player, is likely to battle for a practice-squad spot (at best) during the preseason and training camp.
