Packers’ Pro Bowl defender enters critical stretch to prove his value as contract cost may force Green Bay to explore options
Edge defender Rashan Gary is on pace for his first 10-sack season in the NFL, but the production based on cost could be better.
Rashan Gary has had multiple opportunities. At first, he was drafted as a project by the Green Bay Packers back in 2019, getting behind Za’Darius and Preston Smith on the depth chart. He developed, became a productive starter and was expected to be a premier edge rusher.
That didn’t happen as the Packers projected, so they made a move to acquire Micah Parsons. Presumably, the lack of attention from defenses would help Gary reach the next level. That hasn’t exactly been the case so far, even though the seventh-year player is on pace for a career high in sacks.
Rashan Gary’s pass-rush snaps per pressure:
- 2019: 9.6
- 2020: 7.6
- 2021: 5.7
- 2022: 5.3
- 2023: 6.4
- 2024: 8.8
- 2025: 8.3
Production and cost
The next seven, plus however many the Packers will have in the postseason, are key for Rashan Gary’s future in Green Bay.
The edge defender is making $9 million this season, but his salary jumps to $17.25 million in 2026. Based on how the Packers structure contracts, the two plus two model, next offseason is the first realistic out for the team. Gary is too valuable and effective to be released, but a trade could be in consideration.
If the Packers trade him before June, they would have $17 million in dead money and $10.98 million in cap savings. That space plus whatever trade compensation the team gets, and it’s real value — especially for a team needing draft capital and extra financial flexibility after acquiring Parsons from the Dallas Cowboys.
So far this season, 118 edge defenders qualify for at least 20% of their teams’ snaps. Among them, Rashan Gary is 29th in total pressures (33) and 69th by PFF in pass rush grade. Despite the 7.5 sacks, a byproduct of being a secondary edge rusher to some extent, Gary has had a similar game-by-game production as Lukas Van Ness — who’s even better on a down-to-down basis.
Making a significant amount of money and having trade value if the Packers want it, Rashan Gary has to step up and show he can be truly impactful playing opposite Micah Parsons. Otherwise, Green Bay will have the option to manage the edge group with less expensive options and keep up a similar production.
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