One thing that may have swayed Adam Peters’ decision to draft Josh Conerly Jr. in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft was relative position strength.
Though the Washington Commanders need pass-rushing help, the general manager decided none of the available edge players were worthy of a first-round pick. Apart from Abdul Carter, I only had Mykel Williams and James Pearce Jr. as first-rounders. The offensive line had more top-end prospects this year, like Conerly.
That doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of high-ceiling pass rushers still available on Day 2. Which ones will still be on the board when the Commanders pick at No. 61 overall is unknown. Matt Miller from ESPN has one of them — Texas A&M’s Nic Scourton — going to Washington in his updated mock draft. It would be a very good get for Peters at that point.
Nic Scourton makes more sense for Commanders at the end of Round No. 2
Some scouts had Scourton going much higher, as high as the late first round. That would have been too big a reach. But late in the second, that makes good sense for a team that needs what he can provide.
Scourton would be a physical presence on the edge. He is in the same mold as the defensive ends Dan Quinn used much of last season — Dorance Armstrong Jr. and Clelin Ferrell. He doesn’t have quite the same length as those edges, and that could limit him a bit. But he has a thicker frame that can stand up to power on the outside.
Though he will feature primarily as a pass rusher, Scourton is not a one-dimensional player. Some of the other lighter, quicker edges still available would be.
The prospect dropped almost 30 pounds for pre-draft evaluations. Scourton weighed over 280 pounds for most of his final season with the Aggies, but has slimmed down. Even at the higher weight, he showed great burst off the line. Playing more in the 265-pound range could make him an even more explosive asset coming from wide sets.
Scourton had 15 sacks over his final two seasons — first at Purdue and then at Texas A&M — and made a lot of plays behind the line of scrimmage. He may not be able to chase down ball carriers from behind, but he has very good short-area speed.
As a pass rusher, Scourton has a solid blend of speed and power. The edge threat is also already displaying a spin move that has overwhelmed college offensive linemen.
To translate those skills, Scourton will need excellent coaching that can improve his arsenal of rush moves while teaching him how to stay disciplined. This is exactly why Ryan Kerrigan is on Washington's staff.
The Commanders have shown interest in several other edge rushers who could fall to them at the end of the second round. They had official meetings with both Landon Jackson and Ashton Gillotte. Scourton profiles as a slight upgrade over both. But despite having some intriguing length, Jackson has also been an injury risk throughout college.
Peters could be getting a player with a solid floor who has the potential to develop into a fairly high-ceiling edge as well. He is also very young, capable of growing and maturing both physically and mentally.
He has already shown leadership skills, having been chosen as a captain as a 19-year-old sophomore at Purdue. If he doesn’t physically profile as an ideal edge, Scourton more than makes up for it in effort.
I didn’t like Scourton as a potential first-round pick for the Commanders. But he would be an excellent addition at the end of Round No. 2.