Brenton Cox (Kirby Lee/USA Today Sports Images)

Which Undrafted Free Agent Will Keep Packers’ Streak Alive?

The Packers have had at least one undrafted rookie make the opening 53-man roster for each of the last 18 years. Which player has the best chance of keeping that streak alive?

Author:
Bill Huber
Publish date:
Jun 19, 2023 10:41 PM EDT

In this story:

Green Bay Packers

GREEN BAY, Wis. – In undrafted free agency this year, eight teams guaranteed at least $225,000 to one of their signings, according to Over The Cap.

The Green Bay Packers’ undrafted class pocketed a combined $80,500.

So, clearly, the Packers weren’t picking from the “best of the rest” of the NFL Draft’s so-called eighth round. Rather, they were picking from the bargain bin.

As usual.

Which player could be the hidden Picasso found in a rummage sale of cheap oil paintings?

FanNation’s NFL beat writers each picked the one undrafted free agent most likely to make the 53-man roster. For the Packers, who’ve had at least one undrafted rookie make the opening roster for 18 consecutive years, the selection was outside linebacker Brenton Cox.

Cox has all the talent in the world as a five-star recruit. In 2021 at Florida, Cox recorded 8.5 sacks, 14.5 tackles for losses and four passes defensed. He set a school record with four sacks against Florida State.

However, he was dismissed from Georgia following his freshman season and from Florida through eight games of the 2022 season. Thus, he went undrafted. The Packers gave him a $9,000 signing bonus.

During the predraft process, outside linebackers coach Jason Rebrovich asked a blunt question.

“I called the young man,” Rebrovich said before the start of OTAs, “and I said, ‘Hey, man, I don’t want nothing to know about football. I want to know who I’m going to get on a daily basis. Am I going to get this knucklehead that’s gone through this stuff or am I going to get a guy that wants to become a pro and have the opportunity to become a star in this league?’”

The early returns – “early” being the key word – are encouraging. Asked on June 6 which rookies had made a strong impression, coach Matt LaFleur mentioned first-round pick Lukas Van Ness, Day 3 defensive linemen Colby Wooden and Karl Brooks, and Cox as players who’ve made “splash” plays.

Making the 53-man roster won’t be easy. Assuming Rashan Gary doesn’t have a setback in his recovery from a torn ACL, he’s a good bet to join Preston Smith, Van Ness and Kingsley Enagbare on the roster. Justin Hollins might be a lock, too. That would be five players. Can Cox force the Packers to keep six?

Ignoring the off-the-field issues, what will Cox look like when training camp begins next month?

“I’m looking for a violent approach,” he said last week as part of an interview for a future story. “Every rush, I’m just trying to get pressure on the quarterback. Obviously, you can’t hit the quarterback in training camp but just being consistent, just going hard every day.

“Showing up’s Step 1. That’s the start of the day: showing up, getting to know your guys, knowing your plays, knowing your technique and go out there and fly around. That’s what I plan on doing.”

Click here for the full FanNation UDFA story.