Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Packer Plus
Rising star Gary looks to convert more sacks
Green Bay — Even if their salarycap situation gave the Green Bay Packers little choice but to move on from Za’Darius Smith, releasing the Pro Bowler was made a little easier after Rashan Gary’s emergence last season.
If general manager Brian Gutekunst had concerns about Gary, his 2019 first-round pick, those were eased last fall. After a slow transition to the NFL in his first two seasons, Gary burst onto the scene as one of the league’s most disruptive edge rushers in 2021, finishing with 111⁄2 sacks and 28 quarterback hits in 18 games.
The Packers retained a productive bookend this offseason, signing Preston Smith to a four-year, $52 million extension. A year ago, Gary and Preston Smith kept the pass rush afloat in Za’Darius Smith’s injury absence, each approaching double-digit sacks in the regular season. With Za’Darius Smith now in Minnesota, they’ll have more pressure to produce than ever before.
While the top of the Packers’ outside linebacker depth chart is formidable, depth is a big concern.
Outside linebacker
Locks: Rashan Gary, Preston Smith. Good bet: Jonathan Garvin.
On the bubble: Kingsley Enagbare, Tipa Galeai, La’Darius Hamilton, Randy Ramsey.
Long shots: Kobe Jones, Chauncey Manac.
Biggest offseason move
The lone addition to the roster was rookie Enagbare, whom the Packers drafted in the fifth round out of South Carolina. Enagbare was a productive player in the SEC, recording 101⁄2 sacks in his final two college seasons. He was voted first-team all-SEC by conference coaches as a junior in 2020, leading the Gamecocks with six sacks. His numbers dipped some as a senior, when Enagbare finished with 41⁄2 sacks. His 4.87 40 at the NFL combine was slow by edge-rush standards, meaning Enagbare will need to win his pass rushes with strength and technique.
It likely will take time for Enagbare to develop in the NFL, but special
teams should be an avenue to a roster spot as a rookie.
Position battle
Garvin has a foothold on the third outside linebacker spot, though he’ll need to earn it in camp. Behind him, there will be a fierce battle for the fourth and potentially final position. Enagbare will compete with holdovers Galeai, Hamilton and Ramsey, attempting to give the Packers their coveted four-man rotation on the edge.
Galeai spent most of his first two seasons on the Packers’ practice squad before being promoted to the active roster last November. An active worker, Galeai recorded his first career sack on a Christmas Day gift from Cleveland quarterback Baker Mayfield, who fell untouched in front of him while leaving the pocket. Galeai’s five pressures in six games showed some potential. Hamilton spent most of last season on the Packers’ practice squad, playing six games as a call up.
Ramsey’s special-teams ability earned him a roster spot as a rookie in 2020, but an ankle injury in training camp last year wiped out his second season.
Keep an eye on
Entering his eighth season, Preston Smith’s career has been a strange statistical anomaly. In four seasons coming on odd-numbered years, Smith has produced eight, eight, 12 and nine sacks, respectively. In even-numbered years, he has produced four, four and 41⁄2 sacks. Smith said this spring he is aware of the roller-coaster inconsistency, and that it’s something he’s working to address. Good thing entering the 2022 season. The Packers would like him to snap that trend this fall.
Key question
As good as Gary was last season, he could have easily cracked his first Pro Bowl roster if he’d converted more pass-rush opportunities into sacks. Gary tied for 18th in the NFL with 91⁄2 regular-season sacks. His 28 quarterback hits were seventh most in the league, one more than Cincinnati Pro Bowler Trey Hendrickson. Pass rush isn’t solely gauged with sacks, but finishing is still important. Gary knows what it would mean for his career and the Packers’ defense if more of his rushes end with sacks in 2022.
Prediction
On a loaded unit, Gary might become the Packers’ best defensive player this fall. His 42 pressures showed Gary can develop into one of the NFL’s top pass rushers. Given his work ethic — Gary said he planned on training straight through the five-week period between OTAs and training camp — there’s no reason to think Gary won’t continue to ascend in his fourth season. After being named a Pro Bowl alternate last season, expect Gary to make his first Pro Bowl in 2022.