Bengals need to proceed with caution before taking a big swing on former Pro Bowler if he makes it to free agency
Can the Bengals afford to take a risk on Rashan Gary if he becomes available?
The Cincinnati Bengals may not make a “big swing” next week in free agency unless the logistics make sense. Money, fit, and need all have to align for a notoriously conservative franchise to pony up the cash for a head-turning move.
Green Bay Packers EDGE Rashan Gary looks like the swing they would take. Gary is a former first-round pick, a Pro Bowler from two years ago, plays a position of need, and has been at least partially coached by defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery when Green Bay had Montgomery on staff for nearly a decade.
Gary is still with the Packers as of Friday afternoon, but the 28-year old pass rusher posted, and then deleted, a lengthy goodbye to Green Bay. Reports indicate the Packers are interested in trading Gary, but will eventually release him if no team wants to take on the remainder of his four-year, $96 million contract.
The only reason Gary is set to become available is if Green Bay decides he’s no longer worth his contract. For a team in need of good pass rushers, this should cause some concern despite the resume Gary has put together after seven seasons.
Bengals should beware the risk of Rashan Gary
Gary needed two years of seasoning before putting together his career-year in 2021 for the Packers when he racked up 9.5 official sacks and 87 pressures according to Pro Football Focus. His pass rush grade from PFF that year was a stellar 90.1.
Since then, his quality of play has declined. He’s still managed at least six sacks a season since 2022, but his pass rush grade has dropped an average of 7.3 points per year.
His peak was brief, and it’s the story of his career thus far.
“Rashan Gary is the definition of unrealized potential. The Packers took him ahead of guys like Brian Burns and Montez Sweat in the draft back in 2019 right after signing Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith in free agency with plans to slowly develop an athletic but raw edge defender. That eventually happened, and Gary became a full-time player by Year 3. But right when Gary was reaching his prime, he tore his ACL. He even returned from injury playing well and received a big contract extension, but his level came back to Earth over the past two years.
“Last season, Gary had 7.5 sacks in the first seven games of the year playing alongside Micah Parsons, but zero sacks in the final nine games — he didn’t play the regular season finale against the Minnesota Vikings. He didn’t have any sacks against the Chicago Bears in the playoff either. Overall, Gary generated 54 pressures in 2025, more than his 47 in 2024 but well behind his career-high 81 in 2021.
“Gary played better against the run, but the lack of production as a pass rusher simply didn’t justify his big salary. Maybe under different circumstances, and with a lower salary, his value could be better for his next destination.” — A to Z Sports Green Bay’s Wendell Ferreira
A lower salary is a must for any team interested in acquiring Gary, including the Bengals. There will be money to spend after allowing Trey Hendrickson to test his market and at least one veteran is needed to replace him, but Gary comes with a level of risk that cannot be accompanied by a lucrative contract.
An ancillary piece of the puzzle? Sure, that’s a worthy role to task Gary of filling. He just can’t be THE answer to their problems, no matter his potential affordability or Montgomery’s familiarity with him.