6 free-agent pass rushers the Panthers should consider after Nic Scourton's knee injury
· Yahoo Sports
After fielding one of the NFL's most lackluster pass rushes over the previous few seasons, the Carolina Panthers entered 2026 with some real hope for their outside linebacker room. Between the big-time addition of free agent Jaelan Phillips and the growth of a few of their own, things have been looking up off the edge for the reigning NFC South champs.
Unfortunately, however, disaster struck on Thursday—as second-year 'backer Nic Scourton was carted off from the very first practice of training camp with a knee injury. According to NFL Network, tests have revealed that Scourton sustained an ACL tear—likely putting an end to his season.
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Scourton's devastating setback may leave the Panthers to track down some outside juice for their defense. And if that's the case, here are six potential free-agent options moving forward . . .
Joey Bosa
The most capable option, perhaps, is Bosa—a former first-round pick by the Los Angeles Chargers from 2016. In 122 career games, Bosa has racked up 77.0 sacks, 172 quarterback hits and 96 tackles for a loss.
Along the way, Bosa has made five Pro Bowl teams and won Defensive Rookie of the Year. While he hasn't posted more than 6.5 sacks in a season since 2021, the 31-year-old may still be the most dynamic option on the market.
Leonard Floyd
One of the most underrated free agents in this department is Floyd, who's coming off a somewhat quiet season for the Atlanta Falcons. The former first-rounder totaled 3.5 sacks and 11 tackles for a loss while playing just 49 percent of their defensive snaps.
Before that, Floyd had not managed fewer than 8.5 sacks between 2020 and 2024.
Haason Reddick
Bringing back a familiar face might be the right route to replace Scourton.
Reddick posted 11.0 sacks for the Panthers five years ago and followed up two with more sensational seasons in Philadelphia. Injuries have cost him large portions of the last pair of campaigns, but the two-time Pro Bowler can still make an impact when healthy.
Yetur Gross-Matos
Another former Carolina pass rusher worth considering is Gross-Matos, a second-round pick from 2020.
In his first stint with the Panthers, Gross-Matos posted 13.0 sacks over 55 games, then moved on to play two years with the San Francisco 49ers. He missed half of the 2025 campaign with a nagging hamstring injury.
Jadeveon Clowney
Would Clowney and the Panthers entertain a reunion?
Although their separation ahead of the 2025 season was a tad messy, the South Carolina legend would fit seamlessly back into a defense he stood out for in 2024.
Von Miller
Last but not least, the Panthers might consider calling in an old nemesis.
Super Bowl 50 supervillain Von Miller is no longer the premier defender he was in his prime, but he's still playing at a solid level—totaling 9.0 sacks and 15 quarterback hits in 2025 with the Washington Commanders. Miller would also provide some much-needed championship experience for a relatively young and unproven unit.
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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: 6 free-agent pass rushers the Panthers should consider after Nic Scourton's knee injury