The Green Bay Packers open training camp next week with a significant question at edge rusher. Micah Parsons is expected to miss the first month or so of the season while recovering from an ACL injury, leaving the Packers short on proven pass-rush production.

Green Bay has young and developmental pieces on the roster (Lukas Van Ness, Barryn Sorrell, Collin Oliver, Dani Dennis-Sutton), but if general manager Brian Gutekunst wants a higher-floor veteran to bridge the gap, free agency still offers viable options.

Jadeveon Clowney

The most obvious option is probably the best one. The former first overall pick has bounced around the league, but Clowney remains a productive edge defender. He generated 40 pressures for the Dallas Cowboys last season, 44 for the Carolina Panthers in 2024, and 71 for the Baltimore Ravens in 2023. He brings extensive experience across multiple defensive structures and remains an excellent run defender on top of his pass-rush ability.

Clowney played on a one-year, $3.45 million contract with Dallas last season. Per Spotrac, his projected market value sits at a one-year, $5.7 million deal. That’s absolutely something the Packers could afford in this cycle, and his versatility would give Green Bay more flexibility up front while Parsons works his way back.

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Joey Bosa

The 31-year-old defensive end spent most of his career with the Los Angeles Chargers but played for the Buffalo Bills last season, logging 563 defensive snaps and generating 47 pressures. His 88.7 PFF pass-rush grade confirms he can still produce at a high level. Bosa also remains a historically reliable run defender.

According to some reports, Bosa is mulling retirement. However, Green Bay could present an appealing scenario: start for the first few weeks while Parsons recovers, then transition into a premium rotational role. The complication is cost. Spotrac projects a two-year, $27.4 million contract, though his age and situation could realistically push him toward a one-year deal at roughly $13.7 million annually. That makes him the most expensive option on this list.

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Haason Reddick

Reddick spent last season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and is more clearly on the downside of his career. He’s not as effective as a run defender compared to the previous options, and his smaller frame limits his ability as a tackler. Still, even in limited snaps for the Bucs, Reddick generated 34 pressures.

Per Spotrac, his projected contract lands at one year, $4.9 million. If the Packers want pure pass-rush juice off the edge without paying Bosa-level money, Reddick could make sense as a situational piece, though his limitations against the run make him a less likely fit for what Green Bay typically values.

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Yetur Gross-Matos

The youngest option on this list, Gross-Matos spent the past few seasons with the San Francisco 49ers after starting his career as a second-round pick with the Carolina Panthers. The production, however, has never matched the draft pedigree. He generated only 13 pressures last season and 21 in 2024, with a 34.8 PFF run defense grade and just three stops against the run.

At 265 pounds, Gross-Matos has the frame to be a powerful edge setter, but he hasn’t shown the same pass-rush ability or run-defense consistency as the other names here. His projected market value is a one-year, $3.5 million contract. The appeal is his age and the idea that Green Bay could avoid the declining-career concerns that come with the older options.

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Kyle Van Noy

Van Noy brings something different to this conversation. The veteran has played the past three seasons for the Baltimore Ravens and remains a highly effective player, but his real value lies in positional versatility. Throughout his career, he has logged 4,837 snaps as an edge defender and 1,974 as an off-ball linebacker. That flexibility could be particularly appealing for defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon, who sometimes asks edge players to drop into coverage.

Van Noy generated 27 pressures last season and 52 in 2024. He was a Pro Bowler in 2024, an impressive accomplishment given his age. The concern is that he’s already 35 years old, which could push the Packers away. Per Spotrac, his market value projects at a one-year, $3.5 million contract, making him one of the cheapest options available.