NFC rival wants a star player from the Packers, but Green Bay has no reason to entertain the idea right now
Trade deadline is approaching, and contending teams are ready to invest future draft capital to solve roster needs.
The San Francisco 49ers lost Nick Bosa for the season with a knee injury, so it’s natural that the team will consider its options on the market to replace him. One of them, according to ESPN’s insider Jeremy Fowler, is Green Bay Packers edge defender Rashan Gary.
Well, that’s simply not happening.
The Packers could eventually consider moving on from Gary, but this is certainly not the moment to pull the trigger.
This is what Fowler wrote:
“Yes, the 49ers have been scanning the trade market for pass-rush options. I’m told the Niners consider Trey Hendrickson an ideal fit for their defense if the Bengals would part with him for reasonable compensation.
“Other potential options I suspect the 49ers will check on include edge rushers Rashan Gary (Packers), Jaelan Phillips (Dolphins), Bradley Chubb (Dolphins), Jermaine Johnson (Jets), Will McDonald IV (Jets) and Arden Key (Titans). If the Packers won’t part with Gary — and I don’t think they would — they have pass rusher Kingsley Enagbare, a former starter who’s relegated to a reserve role in a contract year. Pass rusher could elicit the most movement on the trade market overall, and I suspect San Francisco will be involved to some extent.”
Why the Packers won’t trade Rashan Gary
Gary has been a star for the Packers’ defense, playing opposite Micah Parsons. While opposing offenses are focusing on Parsons, Gary has had a career year, leading the team with 4.5 sacks and second in pressures with 17 through five games.
While converting pressures into sacks has always been an issue for Gary, he’s done exactly that this year — he’s on pace for a career high 15 sacks.
But more than that, the Packers are on a timeline where they simply can’t give up such a productive player. And it’s not like they’re risking losing Gary soon. He’s under contract through 2027 after signing a four-year extension in 2023.
Gary is making $17.25 million this year and is slated to make $19.5 million next season and $22.5 million in 2027. Looking at the top of the market, Gary’s salary is absolutely reasonable based on his production.
Maybe the Packers will consider moving on from Gary if/when they decide to pay Lukas Van Ness, but that’s not happening right now.
Enagbare might be on the move
If it doesn’t make any sense for the Packers to trade Gary now, Kingsley Enagbare might bring a different scenario. He’s fourth on the edge rotation and is in the last year of his deal. Moreover, moving on from him would open the door for the Packers to give more snaps to rookie Barryn Sorrell.
The problem is that Van Ness left the Cincinnati Bengals game with a foot injury and might miss some time. If the former first-rounder can get healthy before the trade deadline, trading Enagbare would become more likely.
Ultimately, the Packers have to be careful in any trade with the 49ers. Making a dangerous NFC rival stronger is risky, unless the value is absolutely there.
Green Bay Packers News
Packers defensive player is generating buzz in the trade market, and Green Bay could benefit by acting ahead of the deadline
Kingsley Enagbare is in the last year of his rookie deal.
