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Green Bay defensive end Rashan Gary had a team-high 7.5 sacks in 2024 and made his first Pro Bowl.<\/p>\n
Getty Images<\/p>\n
The Green Bay Packers went 11-6 last season, sweeping the NFC West and the AFC South along the way.<\/p>\n
Overall, though, no one in the building was happy.<\/p>\n
The Packers failed to build on their terrific finish to the 2023 campaign, settled for the No. 7 seed in the NFC playoffs, and lost a Wild Card game to eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia.<\/p>\n
Afterwards, general manager Brian Gutekunst turned up the heat on everybody in the building.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to continue to ramp up our sense of urgency,\u201d Gutekunst said. \u201cI think it\u2019s time we started competing for championships.\u201d<\/p>\n
Those are fair expectations.<\/p>\n
The Packers return 20 of 22 starters, and appear to have upgraded the roster via free agency and the draft. With several third and fourth year players trending upward, Green Bay should be poised to make a move.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think they\u2019re ready,\u201d Gutekunst said.<\/p>\n
Now, it\u2019s time for the Packers to prove their G.M. right.<\/p>\n
Green Bay\u2019s first training camp practice is July 23. Between now and then I will count down the \u201830 Most Important Packers\u2019 heading into the 2025 campaign.<\/p>\n
At No. 5 is defensive end Rashan Gary.<\/p>\n
No. 5
\nRashan Gary, DE<\/p>\n
Last season<\/p>\n
Gary was named to his first career Pro Bowl, but was far from a dominant player.<\/p>\n
Gary had 7.5 sacks, nine tackles for loss, 47 total tackles and a forced fumble while starting all 17 games. Gary also led the Packers with 15 quarterback hits.<\/p>\n
Gary was extremely strong against the run, helping the Packers finish seventh in rushing defense, allowing just 99.4 yards per game. According to Pro Football Focus, though, Gary ranked 31st among edge rushers with 47 pressures after finishing 20th in 2023 with 60 pressures.<\/p>\n
Career to date<\/p>\n
Gary, the 12th overall pick in the 2019 draft, had a rough rookie season with just two sacks and three quarterback hits.<\/p>\n
Gary\u2019s career began taking off in 2020 when he ranked second on the team with 6.5 sacks and second in pressures with 30, despite playing just 44.4% of the snaps that year.<\/p>\n
Gary then exploded from the start of 2021 through the first half of 2022, notching an eye-popping 17.5 sacks in a 26-game stretch. Gary had 43 quarterback hits and 18 tackles for loss in that time and was emerging as one of the top edge rushers in football.<\/p>\n
From Weeks 1-9 of the 2022 campaign, Gary ranked in the top 10 among NFL linebackers in quarterback hits (12, tied for sixth), sacks (six, tied for eighth) and pressures (27, ninth). That followed a tremendous 2021 season in which Gary ranked seventh among linebackers in quarterback hits (28) and second in pressures (81).<\/p>\n
Then, the ultimate nightmare hit when Gary tore his right ACL against Detroit in Week 9 of the 2022 campaign.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne thing I told myself is throughout this process I’m taking it day by day,\u201d Gary said during his rehab. \u201cI’m just making sure I’m squeezing the towel as much as I can every day, making sure I’m not leaving one inch of doubt of if I pushed it to my all.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gary made an impressive recovery, though, and was back for the season opener in 2023. Then he finished the 2023 campaign with 9.0 sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.<\/p>\n
Outlook<\/p>\n
The Packers signed Gary to a four-year, $96 million contract extension on Oct. 30. That currently makes him the ninth-highest paid edge rusher in football, which is probably a proper landing spot.<\/p>\n
Gary is a tireless worker who plays with great passion and has put up respectable numbers. The Packers keep waiting for Gary to have a breakout season, though, one in which he ranks among the NFL\u2019s sack leaders.<\/p>\n
Gary, who\u2019s entering his seventh season in Green Bay, is still just 27. He\u2019s in the prime of his career and more than two years removed from his ACL tear. He\u2019ll also be playing in Green Bay\u2019s 4-3 defense for a second year.<\/p>\n
If Gary is ever going to have a monster season, the time is now.<\/p>\n
The Packers desperately need that kind of year from Gary after their front four was inconsistent last season and they ignored pass rusher in the draft until the fourth round.<\/p>\n
They Said It \u2026<\/p>\n
\u201cHe’s disruptive in the run game, he sets edges. I love the guy. He works really hard, and I think he’s embraced his role.\u201d \u2014 Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley on Gary<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s earned everything. I\u2019m a big believer in people that approach it the right way, that are talented that come to work with mindset and determination that he possesses. He\u2019s a tone setter.\u201d \u2014Packers coach Matt LaFleur on Gary<\/p>\n
\u201cThe sky\u2019s the limit, man. From Pro Bowl to being an NFL Top 100 player to now shooting to be an All Pro. That\u2019s the next step for me.\u201d \u2014 Gary on what\u2019s next for him<\/p>\n
THE TOP 30<\/p>\n
\u2022 No. 30 \u2014 RB MarShawn Lloyd<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 No. 29 \u2014 WR Dontayvion Wicks<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 No. 28 \u2014 S Javon Bullard<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 No. 27 \u2014 WR Savion Williams<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 No. 26 \u2014 LB Isaiah McDuffie<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 No. 25 \u2014 OL Jordan Morgan<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 No. 24 \u2014 WR Matthew Golden<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 No. 23 \u2014 CB Carrington Valentine<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 No. 22 \u2014 WR Romeo Doubs<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 No. 21 \u2014 QB Malik Willis<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 N0. 20 \u2014 DE Lukas Van Ness<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 No. 19 \u2014 RG Sean Rhyan<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 No. 18 \u2014 LT Rasheed Walker<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 No. 17 \u2014 DT Devonte Wyatt<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 No. 16 \u2014 S Evan Williams<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 No. 15 \u2014 CB Nate Hobbs<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 No. 14 \u2014 LB Quay Walker<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 No. 13 \u2014 OL Aaron Banks<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 No. 12 \u2014 CB Keisean Nixon<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 No. 11 \u2014 K Brandon McManus<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 No. 10 \u2014 TE Tucker Kraft<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 No. 9 \u2014 WR Jayden Reed<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 No. 8 \u2014 DT Kenny Clark<\/a><\/p>\n