CHARLOTTE — In today's NFL, a team must have a dynamic edge rusher, and two is ideal. Once upon a time, that depended on scheme or maybe the opposing quarterbacks within a division. But now, every offense has some version of spread concepts built in, at the very least, with more and more adding in a quarterback able to move around and outside the pocket if need be.

Essentially, a defense can live or die by its pass rush.

Last season, the Panthers defense often suffered the latter, with 32 sacks, tied for the third-fewest league-wide.

So, general manager Dan Morgan went out and got two pass-rushers in this year's draft: Nic Scourton (Rd. 2, No. 51 overall) and Princely Umanmielen (Rd. 3, No. 77 overall).

"If you were to tell me that we were gonna get TMac (receiver Tetairoa McMillan) and then Nic Scourton and then Princely," exclaimed coach Dave Canales after the second round of the 2025 NFL draft, "I mean, I didn't get that not once in any of my mocks in the 1st three picks, so I'm just like ecstatic right now."

Added Morgan that same night, "The roster, it's all about adding competition, adding depth and, especially at a position, last year that, you know, it felt like we needed to get a little more pass rush out there.

"So, to be able to add these two guys, you know, it's just going to add to the group and the competition and everything that the program's about.

And this past weekend, the Panthers saw the two together on the field for the first time.

Granted, rookie minicamp is more about stretching guys out on the NFL field, getting them used to the building, the coaches, and each other. But Scourton and Umanmielen didn't let that stop them from the opportunity to see what playing together could feel like.

Friday night, after the first practice of rookie minicamp, the duo—along with tryout player (and Scourton's former teammate at Purdue) Kydran Jenkins—went down to one of the meeting rooms at the hotel where rookies were staying.

The room became a field, chairs served as offensive linemen, and the playbook—however limited it may be in the first weekend—became inspiration.

"We're trying to be prepared for practice (Saturday), and that's the type of guy (Princely) is, and that's the type of guy I am, and I'm excited to get to work with him," Scourton shared after Saturday's practice.

"We had a couple of (hotel employees) in the room, and we're like, 'Are we good to be in here?' And they're like, 'Yeah, you're good, but what are y'all doing?' And we're just like, 'We're going over plays.'"

Thus is the life of a rookie, finding every possible edge.

Veterans joined the room on Monday, introducing Scourton and Umanmielen to Patrick Jones II and D.J. Wonnum. Both were nabbed in free agency over the last two years from the Minnesota Vikings, and Wonnum picked up 37 tackles and 4.0 sacks in only eight games last season. Even amid rookie minicamp, Scourton looked forward to picking the brains of those in his room.

"Just expect to get around those guys, learn from them, compete with them," Scourton said of what he's looking forward to.

"We have a really good room; I'm just excited to really get around those guys and meet those guys and start competing and, you know. Hopefully, me helping them get better and then obviously helping me get a lot better."

The chances to do so will be ten-fold through voluntary workouts, mandatory minicamp, and eventually training camp, a fact Scourton still hasn't quite wrapped his brain around.

Asked what's been a surprise from his first weekend in the NFL, Scourton admitted, "It wasn't really unexpected, but just how much knowledge you can really pick up in two days, like learning so much freaking football, you know, we don't have class anymore. This is all I do. This is my job."

And that knowledge can be picked up from anywhere, even a hotel meeting room.