The Green Bay Packers have one of the more youthful rosters in the NFL. They are loaded with high-upside youngsters that will have a chance to showcase their talents in leading roles during the 2023 season.
One of the players that the team is very high on is edge rusher, Rashan Gary. The first-round pick out of Michigan in the 2019 NFL Draft was in the midst of a breakout campaign in the 2022 season before a devastating season-ending knee injury.
Gary suffered his injury in Week 9 against the Detroit Lions. When he went down, he was among the best pass rushers in the NFL, ranking in the top 10 of multiple stats up to that point. He was an integral part of the Packers’ defensive game plan, which felt his loss greatly.
How important was Gary? He finished the season with 6.0 sacks in nine games; that was still second on the team when it was all said and done, trailing only Preston Smith. Getting him back on the field as soon as possible will be paramount to Green Bay reaching its potential on that side of the ball.
While Gary may not be a household name among casual football fans, his talents are appreciated by people within the league. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler put together a top-10 edge rushers list for the 2023 season based on intel from executives, coaches and scouts and Gary found himself receiving some votes.
Had Gary stayed healthy, it is fair to assume that he would have cracked the honorable mentions list at the very least but likely would have found himself in the top 10. A rising star in the league, 2023 is a big season for the Packers star.
Another strong season will certainly have him moving up the list. But, most importantly to him, Gary is playing for his next contract. He is playing out the fifth-year option on his rookie deal in 2023 and could put himself in line for a monster contract in 2024 with good health and performance.