A total of 122 NFL edge defenders played at least 20% of their teams defensive snaps in 2024. It’s shocking how poor the Green Bay Packers players were generating pressure by themselves. Rashan Gary (31st), Kingsley Enagbare (72nd), Lukas Van Ness (87th), and Preston Smith (94th) didn’t come close to justify the team’s investment in the position since Brian Gutekunst took over as the general manager in 2018.

This is another part of our Packers positional breakdown series, and it’s one that has to drastically improve in order for Green Bay to have success in 2025.

Issues rushing the passer

The Packers gave Rashan Gary a four-year, $96 million extension back in 2023, when he was still getting fully back from an ACL injury. Last year, be it for a real regression or just because he was getting used to playing under Jeff Hafley’s scheme, Gary only generated 47 pressures via PFF—fewer than the 60 he had generated in 2023 and the 81 he had in 2021. In 2022, he played basically half the snaps of the season before getting injured, and still managed to have 38 pressures. There’s no way around it: Gary had his worst season since breaking out in the NFL.

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The big problem for the Packers was that nobody else was able to compensate for that. Preston Smith wasn’t a good fit for the defense and got traded at the deadline. Kingsley Enagbare played at a below average level for a starter, and Lukas Van Ness failed to progress in his second season—he actually regressed as well, in addition to managing a hand injury suffered in Week 1.

Without enough pass rush from the defensive front, Hafley was forced to send extra rushers and expose the secondary. The defense was still able to have a slightly below-average 21.5% pressure rate according to Pro Football Reference, but it’s not the most sustainable way of impacting the game, especially with the Packers’ problems at cornerback.

The lack of development and high-end performances led the Packers to fire defensive line coach Jason Rebrovich, who had been promoted from pass rush specialist a year earlier. To replace him, Green Bay hired former New England Patriots defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington.

What the roster needs at the top

Even fully healthy last year, Gary played only 58.68% of the defensive snaps. The top guys play at least 70%, sometimes more than 80%. So this is the first step. For some reason, being stamina limitation or a desire to rotate players, the Packers haven’t used Gary as they should, and it has to change. Even if Gary isn’t a Myles Garrett or Nick Bosa, he is much better than the rest of the room and should be on the field more regularly.

The second point is, again, development. Now that Hafley has installed his system and Lukas Van Ness is healthy, the former first-round pick has to take a Year 3 leap under Covington.

Brenton Cox Jr. showed excellent signs in a limited role after Preston Smith’s trade last year, and he could be a useful rotational piece alongside Kingsley Enagbare.

In the draft, Green Bay added two different profiles to the room. Barryn Sorrell is the biggest addition of the offseason, within the Packers’ preferred style—heavier, bigger, powerful guy. Collin Oliver is a hybrid edge/off-ball linebacker, but he will start his NFL career in the defensive end room.

Depth

Beyond these players who will most likely make the 53-man roster, there is some competition for a spot—at least on the practice squad. Arron Mosby finished last season on the active roster and played relatively well. The other option is Deslin Alexandre, an undrafted player in 2024 who spent time with the New York Jets and Chicago Bears before signing a future contract with the Packers in January.

How the Packers plan to manage Jordan Love’s contract in the coming years as his value rises and cap strategy becomes critical

There will be some financial challenges

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