Green Bay Packers Scouting Combine Preview: Edge Rushers
The Green Bay Packers took a pass rusher in the first round a year ago.
With Lukas Van Ness available, general manager Brian Gutekunst simply could not help himself. Van Ness joined a group that included Rashan Gary, Preston Smith and Kingsley Enagbare.
On the surface, the Packers have a nice rotation of pass rushers. A small look under the microscope reveals this could be one of the team's under-the-radar needs this offseason.
Smith will turn 32 in November, Gary fizzled down the stretch and Van Ness was a raw project coming out of Iowa and is in the early stages of his development. Enagbare may not be ready until deep into the season if he’s available at all, after tearing his ACL in mid-January during the team's 48-32 win over the Dallas Cowboys.
Would the Packers pass up a chance to add an impact pass rusher if one were available while on the clock?
Gutekunst is the only one with the answer to that question.
Here are some prospects he could be looking at next week in Indianapolis, with a full list available here. The player rankings are from The Athletic's Dane Brugler. The pass-rushing productivity stat referenced here is from Pro Football Focus and measures sacks, hits and hurries per pass-rushing snap.
Austin Booker, Kansas
Resume: 82.2 overall grade; 80.6 pass rushing grade; 78.5 run defense grade. Booker piled up 38 pressures and eight sacks in 2023 to lead the Jayhawks in all categories in his only season of extended playing time. He had zero sacks at Minnesota in 2022. Of 120 edge defenders in the draft class with at least 200 pass-rushing snaps, he ranked 12th in PFF’s pass-rushing productivity. He was a First-Team All-Big 12 defender, as well.
How He Fits: Booker is small, weighing in at 245 pounds. The Packers would be hard-pressed to line him up on the edge down-to-down, making Booker destined for a rotational rusher role until he grows into a larger role.
One potential solution, if Gutekunst decides he likes Booker's pass-rushing ability, is lining him up as a SAM linebacker in a way similar to the role that Von Miller had during his time in Denver. That could change if Booker added some weight, but it's difficult to envision his best way of being used is on the line of scrimmage on every down.
Brugler Ranking: 95
Chris Braswell, Alabama
Resume: 81.0 overall grade; 67.2 run defense grade; 87.9 pass rush grade; Braswell was part of a dynamic duo for the Alabama Crimson Tide with Dallas Turner. He piled up 56 pressures and 13 sacks in Nick Saban's system, giving him an opportunity to be one of the top guys selected in this year's draft class.
How He Fits:
Braswell could step into Green Bay and be a rotational rusher behind the big three that the Packers plan to employ in 2024. Kingsley Enagbare could be someone who misses time in 2024 with an ACL injury, so Braswell would add another body to the mix to combat some of the unproven players on the back end of the depth chart.
He's a little smaller at 6-foot-3 255 pounds, but the Packers could be looking for a different body type to add to their edge room.
Brugler Ranking: 61
Solomon Byrd, USC
Resume: 81.0 overall grade; 81.7 pass rush grade; 74.9 run defense grade. Byrd had 10 sacks in two seasons at Wyoming and 10 sacks in two season at USC. During his final season, he had six tackles and career high of 11 tackles for losses and four forced fumbles. Byrd tallied 41 pressures and seven sacks in 2023, which was an improvement from the 22 pressures and four sacks he put up in 2022. Of 120 edge defenders with at least 200 pass-rushing opportunities, he ranked 39th in PFF’s pass-rushing productivity.
How He Fits: Byrd is on the smaller side, weighing in at 250 pounds as a pass rusher in the Pac-12. Byrd's ability to get the edge helped him hop onto NFL radars, but the fit in Green Bay would be a curious one.
The Packers have typically preferred their edges to be big, especially under Gutekunst. Byrd would be the lightest player in the Packers' edge room, and that could cause a steeper learning curve as he acclimates to trying to beat offensive tackles in the NFL.
Brugler Ranking: Unranked
Myles Cole, Texas Tech
Resume: 64.9 overall grade; 63.1 pass rush grade; 59.5 run defense grade. Cole's 27 pressures and 3.5 sacks were a big improvement from the four pressures and zero sacks he recorded in 2022. Of 120 edge defenders with at least 200 pass-rushing opportunities, he ranked 79th in PFF’s pass-rushing productivity.
How He Fits: Cole will certainly win the first-guy-off-the-bus competition. Cole stands at 6-foot-6, 280 pounds making him easy to pick out of a crowd.
Cole's size fits what the Packers have typically valued, and may lean into more with the switch to Jeff Hafley's new scheme. He'd likely play as a traditional defensive end with his hand in the dirt, and enter a competition with Brenton Cox as the team's fourth preferred edge, depending how Hafley looks at his pass rushers.
Brugler Ranking: Unranked
Jonah Elliss, Utah
Resume: 84.7 overall grade; 90.1 pass rush grade. He had 12 sacks and 16 tackles for losses during a breakout season for the Utes. Elliss was only penalized one time during his career, and recorded 42 run stops in three seasons. He's a two-time all-conference defensive end as well as a 2023 All-American. Of 120 edge defenders with at least 200 pass-rushing opportunities, he ranked 30th in PFF’s pass-rushing productivity.
How He Fits: The fit between Elliss and Green Bay would be a curious one just because of how light he is. Elliss weighed in at 243 pounds, which is 30 pounds lighter than Rashan Gary's listed weight. Because of that, Elliss would need to be a sub-package speed rusher early in his career.
If the Packers felt like they needed a speed rusher in their room with Gary, Van Ness and Smith primarily winning with power, there's a fit between Elliss and Green Bay. His production in rushing the passer was certainly there.
Brugler Ranking: 86
Jaylen Harrell, Michigan
Resume: 77.0 overall grade; 86.0 pass rushing grade; 73.2 run defense grade. The 2024 Senior Bowl participant is a two-time honorable mention All-Big Ten member with experience dropping into coverage as well as rushing the passer. He set career highs with 6.5 sacks, nine tackles for losses and two forced fumbles in 2023. Of 120 edge defenders with at least 200 pass-rushing opportunities, he ranked 22nd in PFF’s pass-rushing productivity.
How He Fits: Harrell was one of the heroes of Michigan's 30-24 victory over Ohio State. He was the one who pressured Kyle McCord into an interception on the game's final play of consequence to secure a win. Harrell is small weighing in at only 242 pounds and he had only 3.5 career sacks entering his final season.
Brugler Ranking: Unranked
Adisa Isaac, Penn State
Resume: 81.7 overall grade; 72.9 pass rush grade; 82.4 run defense grade. Isaac had a banner final season with career highs of 7.5 sacks, 16 tackles for losses and 37 tackles. Of 120 edge defenders with at least 200 pass-rushing opportunities, he ranked 12th in PFF’s pass-rushing productivity. A Senior Bowl participant, he was one of the standouts in 1-on-1 drills.
How He Fits: Isaac is not as decorated as his teammate, Chop Robinson, but he will likely be picked in the top 100 of this year's draft. The Packers may have to spend a first-round pick on Isaac's teammate, but Isaac could be around for either of their second-round picks. He is listed at 250 pounds, which might cause the Packers to want him to add some weight to his frame.
If he were selected, the likely hope from the front office would be that he can become their first pass rusher off the bench whenever they decide to move on from Preston Smith. He could improve Green Bay's run defense on the edges with the 26 stops he recorded in 2023. As the Packers try and improve their run defense, improved play from their edge defenders will be key.
Brugler Ranking: 53
Brennan Jackson, Washington State
Resume: 68.2 overall grade; 72.4 pass rush grade; 63.4 run defense grade. Jackson is a two-time All-Pac 12 performer, with 40 pressures, 8.5 sacks, 12.5 tackles for losses and 57 tackles coming in 2023. Jackson was a sound run defender, as well, so would bring a well-rounded skill-set. He recovered four fumbles and scored three touchdowns. Of 120 edge defenders with at least 200 pass-rushing opportunities, he ranked 36th in PFF’s pass-rushing productivity.
How He Fits: Jackson would fit in a rotation with the back half of the Packers' edge rushing room. He'd have to improve his tackling at the next level, he had a below-average grade according to PFF and missed 11 tackles in his final season for the Cougars. Jackson would need to improve that while acclimating to the NFL level, but as the Packers are on the hunt for a rotational rusher, he could give them a boost in the back half of their edge room.
Brugler Ranking: Unranked
Javontae Jean-Baptiste, Notre Dame
Resume: 79.6 overall grade; 78.4 pass rush grade; 73.0 run defense grade; Jean Baptiste pulled quarterbacks down six times on 38 pressures in his breakout season at Notre Dame. He was able to rack up 87 pressures and 15 sacks in his college career
How He Fits: Javontae Jean-Baptiste spent four years in Columbus with the Ohio State Buckeyes before transferring to South Bend to play for the Fighting Irish.
Jean Baptiste would be a rotational stand up pass rusher for the Packers, who would likely need to play in obvious passing situations as his career begins.
Brugler Ranking: Unranked.
Trajan Jeffcoat, Arkansas
Resume: 58.0 overall grade; 62.2 pass rush grade; 55.5 run defense grade; Jeffcoat started his career with a bang as a First-Team All-SEC member in the COVID-shortened 2020 season. He had five sacks and 24 pressures that year, and finished his career with 18 sacks and 100 total pressures.
How He Fits: Jeffcoat is another big edge rusher, listed at 281 pounds who transferred from Missouri to Arkansas.
Jeffcoat would be another rotational rusher that the Packers could add later in the draft if they were unable to add someone earlier with hopes of them becoming a long-term starter.
Brenton Cox played minimal snaps as a rookie and is far from a guarantee to step into a role that Kingsley Enegbare has left due to an injury. Jeffcoat would require some development but could become a nice rotational piece.
Brugler Ranking: Unranked
Cedric Johnson, Mississipi
Resume: 69.2 overall grade; 77.0 pass rush grade. Johnson had 36 pressures in 2023 to go with three sacks and 17 run stops. Johnson was a participant in the 2024 Senior Bowl, and was named to The Athletic's "Feldman's Freaks." list by Bruce Feldman.
How He Fits: Johnson could be an option that fits some of the traits the Packers prefer if they did not want to take a pass rusher in the first round. They are looking for a rotational rusher with Kingsley Enagbare likely to miss time in 2024 with a torn ACL that he suffered in the team's 48-32 playoff victory over the Dallas Cowboys.
Johnson stands 6-foot-3, 265 pounds, and has experience playing with his hand in the dirt and standing up as a pass rusher.
Brugler Ranking: Unranked
Marshawn Kneeland, Western Michigan
Resume: 77.3 overall grade; 67.6 pass rush grade; 83.3 run defense grade. Kneeland had 12.5 sacks and 28 tackles for losses in four seasons. He had a career-high 10 tackles for losses in 2022 and tied his career high with 4.5 sacks in 2023, when he did set career marks with 57 tackles and two forced fumbles. Kneeland had 25 pressures in two sacks in a shortened 2023 season. Of 120 edge defenders with at least 200 pass-rushing opportunities, he ranked 39th in PFF’s pass-rushing productivity. He is one of the most productive run-stopping edge defenders in the draft class.
How He Fits: Kneeland is short but has the requisite weight the Packers have typically preferred with their pass rushers. He needs to work on some of the nuances within his game to find the consistency necessary to be a productive player in the NFL. If he were drafted by Green Bay, he'd likely be in competition with Cox to be the team's fourth preferred rusher until Enagbare returns from his injury.
Brugler Ranking: 51
Laiatu Latu, UCLA
Resume: 96.3 overall grade; 82.1 run defense grade; 94.3 pass rush grade. Latu had 62 pressures and 13 sacks in 2023 to go with 65 pressures and 10.5 sacks from 2022. He's as disruptive as they come, earning First-Team All-Pac 12 honors the last two years, when he had 23.5 sacks, 34 tackles for losses, five forced fumbles and two interceptions. Of 120 edge defenders with at least 200 pass-rushing opportunities, he ranked second in PFF’s pass-rushing productivity and No. 1 by a wide margin in pass-rush win rate.
How He Fits: Latu is one of the most disruptive players in this draft class and lined up all over the formation during his time with the Bruins. The Packers have liked that versatility with their pass rushers. Van Ness and Gary both have taken snaps reduced down inside on the defensive line.
Latu is a stand up rusher who could be in a rotation on the edge with Gary, Van Ness and Smith. The Packers' hope, if they were to pick Latu, would be that he'd step in as the team's first edge rusher off the bench when Smith moves on.
Brugler Ranking: 22
Braiden McGregor, Michigan
Resume: McGregor was a two-year starter and heir to Aidan Hutchinson's throne at Michigan. While he was not as productive as Hutchinson, he had a nice career for the Wolverines. In 2023, he had 4.5 sacks, nine tackles for losses and 26 tackles – all career highs. Of 120 edge defenders with at least 200 pass-rushing opportunities, he ranked 53rd in PFF’s pass-rushing productivity.
How He Fits: McGregor was a more traditional hand-in-the-dirt defensive end when he was in college, but might have to add some weight to his 267-pound frame if he's going to play that way in the NFL. He is a good run defender with some juice as a pass rusher. He'd be a rotational player early in his career. McGregor would likely require a pick on Day 3. He's played 157 snaps of special teams in his career.
Brugler Ranking: Unranked
Chop Robinson, Penn State
Resume: 90.8 overall grade; 92.3 pass-rush grade. Robinson started his career at Maryland before moving on to Penn State, where he had 9.5 sacks, 17.5 tackles for losses and three forced fumbles in two seasons. Robinson had 26 pressures and three sacks in 10 games in 2023. He was an honorable mention All-Big 10 in 2022, before finishing with a strong season in 2023. While the sack numbers aren’t impressive, he ranked sixth in PFFs pass-rush win rate in 2023.
How He Fits: Robinson would be a departure from the preferences the Packers have typically had for their edge defenders. PFF lists Robinson at 250 pounds, which is at least 10 pounds lighter than Rashan Gary and Lukas Van Ness. If the Packers wanted a different body type in their edge room, Robinson could enter a rotation and become a situational pass rusher early in his career until he gets stronger.
Brugler Ranking: 26
Chop Robinson sacks Cade McNamera
Dan Rainville USA Today
Darius Robinson, Missouri
Resume: Robinson was one of the stars of the 2024 Senior Bowl, standing out in practice throughout the week with his length and power. That adds to his impressive resume at Missouri. As a fifth-year senior in 2023, he had career highs of 8.5 sacks, 14 tackles for losses, 43 tackles and his lone forced fumble. Of 120 edge defenders with at least 200 pass-rushing opportunities, he ranked 20th in PFF’s pass-rushing productivity.
How He Fits: Robinson is a big athlete measuring in at 6-foot-5 and 286 pounds at the Senior Bowl. Robinson fits more of the profile of the hand-in-the-dirt defensive end that is typically preferred in a 4-3 scheme that the Packers are set to employ under Jeff Hafley.
That doesn't matter as much, but Robinson measures out similarly to Van Ness, who the Packers liked enough to take with the 13th overall pick a season ago. Robinson would be a rotational player with Gary, Smith, and Van Ness. They would have the ability to move him inside in obvious passing situations as well if they wanted to do that.
Brugler Ranking: 31
Javon Solomon, Troy
Resume: Solomon was a production machine at Troy, racking up 16 sacks in his final season for the Trojans. He's a two-time All-Sun Belt performer with 11 sacks in 2021 and 16 sacks, 18 tackles for losses and three forced fumbles in 2023. Of 120 edge defenders with at least 200 pass-rushing opportunities, he ranked 16th in PFF’s pass-rushing productivity.
How He Fits: Solomon would be a break of the mold for what Gutekunst has typically preferred with his edge defenders. Solomon is listed at 245 pounds, which is significantly lighter than Van Ness or Gary were when they were drafted. He’s also 13 pounds lighter than Enagbare.
He'd be a different skill set, with a on speed to get around the edge. If the Packers are looking for a different body type, Solomon could be someone they consider in the latter rounds.
Brugler Ranking: Unranked
Bralen Trice, Washington
Resume: 88.5 overall grade; 91.3 pass rush grade; 65.4 run defense grade. Trice is a two-time All-American and two-time All-Pac 12 member, giving him one of the more decorated resumes. He had nine sacks and 12 tackles for losses in 2022 and seven sacks and 11.5 TFLs in 2023. Of 120 edge defenders with at least 200 pass-rushing opportunities, he ranked 23rd in PFF’s pass-rushing productivity.
How He Fits: Trice is another big, powerful rusher who fits the mold of what the Packers have typically targeted under Gutekunst. With him being ranked 56th on Dane Brugler's board, there's a chance he gets pushed higher because of the positional value, but Trice might be a case where value meets the need the Packers have. If they were able to address some issues in the secondary or offensive line before grabbing someone like Trice in the second round, that might be their best use of resources.
Brugler Ranking: 56
Dallas Turner, Alabama
Resume: 81.6 overall grade; 89.3 pass rush grade. Turner was a terror on opposing quarterbacks for the Crimson Tide, teaming with Chris Braswell to form one of the best duos in college football rushing the passer. An impact player all three seasons, Turner had 10 sacks, 14.5 tackles for losses and two forced fumbles in 2023 and 22.5 sacks and 32.5 TFLs for his career. Of 120 edge defenders with at least 200 pass-rushing opportunities, he ranked fifth in PFF’s pass-rushing productivity.
How He Fits: It's likely that to acquire Turner, the Packers would have to make one of the boldest moves they have under Gutekunst. Gutekunst is no stranger to trading up in the first round. He did so for Darnell Savage, Jaire Alexander, and Jordan Love.
None of those moves required the capital that would be likely necessary to move from 25 into the top 10, where Turner could hear his name called. If they did, Turner would be looked at as a long-term trio with Rashan Gary and Lukas Van Ness for the future in hopes of terrorizing opposing quarterbacks.
Brugler Ranking: 12
Jared Verse, Florida State
Resume: Verse was one of the best defensive players in the country, spearheading a 13-0 season for the Seminoles. He played just two seasons at FSU, tallying nine sacks and 17.5 tackles for losses in 2022 and nine sacks, 12.5 TFLs and his lone forced fumble in 2023. Of 120 edge defenders with at least 200 pass-rushing opportunities, he ranked eighth in PFF’s pass-rushing productivity and fourth in pass-rush win rate. He had a whopping 10 pressures and three sacks in the ACC Championship Game against Louisville. Verse is a two-time first-team All-ACC defensive end.
How He Fits: Verse is an older prospect than what the Packers have typically preferred, though that didn’t stop them from drafting Devonte Wyatt in the first round. He'll turn 24 during his rookie season. His skill-set falls right in line with what the Packers have typically valued. He's 6-foot-4, 260 pounds, and the Packers have preferred their pass rushers to be bigger and win with power. Gary and Van Ness are great examples of that.
Verse would likely require a first-round pick, which may seem like overkill at a position they've invested heavily in, but there's no such thing as too many good pass rushers.
Brugler Ranking: 21
