The Carolina Panthers' defense took a big step last season and was a big reason why they were able to hang in the NFC South race before eventually winning it via a tie-breaker. 

It's not far-fetched to call it the strength of their team, either. Now, going into 2026 the Panthers have made some moves to hopefully improve that defense by adding pass rusher Jaelen Phillips and linebacker Devin Lloyd. 

But one returning player could be primed for a break out campaign, and if it happens, it would be a huge bonus for the Panthers. 

The Panthers have high hopes for Phillips after signing him to a big deal in the offseason. They are expecting a big year for the pass rusher, with his abilities potentially giving them a boost for the pass rush.

But what about the other pass rushers? 

Bleacher Report listed their top breakout candidates for each team. Here is what Kristopher Knox said in the article about Scourton and his potential breakout season ahead:

Fans should also continue tracking second-year edge-rusher Nic Scourton. As a rookie, Scourton tied for the team lead with five sacks. The arrival of free agent Jaelan Phillips should give Scourton a legitimate bookend complement, and it should be fun to see how the pair grows during the summer.

Going into his second season, Scourton needs to show some improvement. He had a big preseason last year but as the regular season went on, his snap count decreased and so did the production.

Scourton did finish with five sacks in his rookie year which isn't awful. But they are going to need some more production especially from an edge rusher that they spent a draft pick on. 

Will the addition of Phillips help take some of the pressure off of Scourton? We will likely know if that's the case early and often for the Panthers. And if so, this pass rush could help them be in contention for the NFC South once again, attempting to win it in back-to-back seasons.