The 90 to 1 Green Bay Packers roster countdown: No. 21 – Kyler Fackrell

After a breakout season, the pressure is on to do it again.

The Green Bay Packers, and their 90 players on the roster, are in the midst of their first training camp under coach Matt LaFleur. In an annual tradition from my 11 years at Packer Report, I rank the players in order of importance from No. 90 to No. 1. This isn’t just a listing of the team’s best players. Our rankings take into account talent, importance of the position, depth at the position, salary and draft history. More than the ranking, we hope you learn something about each player. (Note: The start of this series can be found with my former employer.)

No. 21: OLB Kyler Fackrell ($2,198,512 cap)

Nobody saw this coming.

Well, nobody other than Fackrell.

As a rookie third-round pick in 2016, Fackrell had two sacks in 94 pass-rushing snaps. In 2017, he had three sacks in 230 pass-rushing snaps. After a quiet training camp last summer, Fackrell was glued to the bench to start the season. He played just four snaps in the opener against Chicago and 40 snaps in the first three games. Everything changed in Week 4 against Buffalo, when he had a three-sack game. By season’s end, Fackrell had 10.5 sacks in 243 pass-rushing snaps. With a sack in the finale against Detroit, Fackrell hit his lofty goal of double-digits sacks.

“I mean, that’s what goals are supposed to do, is to kind of push you along, right?” Fackrell said at the end of the season. “I enjoy pass rushing, it’s something that I love to do and I believe I have the ability to be a great pass rusher.”

To do that, Fackrell had to get out of his own way. His former position coach, Winston Moss, thought Fackrell was too cerebral. That early time on the bench helped change that mind-set.

“I wasn’t playing very much early in the season and I don’t know if I felt like I didn’t have anything to lose, but I was just like I’m not going to worry about making mistakes,” Fackrell said. “I’m not going to worry about that stuff. I’m just going to go and try and make plays and it worked out.”

Fackrell has a bunch of new teammates, with Clay Matthews and Nick Perry replaced by Za’Darius Smith, Preston Smith and first-round pick Rashan Gary. He also has a new position coach, with Mike Smith arriving from Kansas City after leading Dee Ford and Justin Houston to monster seasons with the Chiefs. Playing time and quarterback-sacking opportunities shouldn’t be an issue. On passing downs, Za’Darius Smith and Gary can line up as interior rushers with Fackrell on the edge.

“Just take a step forward” is Fackrell’s next step, defensive coordinator Mike Pettine said. “It’s nice to see him just working with Mike Smith. Mike’s one of the experts in the game as far as studying offensive linemen and having a game plan to attack a blocker. It’s a lot of detail and I think that Kyler will respond well to that.”

Fackrell, who will turn 28 in November, has a well-versed skill-set. For every two pass rushes, he dropped once in coverage. Still, edge rushers get paid to rush the passer. The big sack total notwithstanding, he needs to get better. Fackrell had 21 total pressures, according to Pro Football Focus. So did Reggie Gilbert. Fackrell and Gilbert have been fighting for the No. 4 job behind the Smiths and Gary. With Za’Darius Smith and Gary able to rush from the interior, there should be plenty of pass-rushing reps for Fackrell.

But will he take advantage? Fackrell is in a rather odd position. With a big season, he could price himself right out of Green Bay. With a poor season, Green Bay might not want him. For financial security – wherever it is – he must prove he’s not a one-hit wonder. Does that need to apply pressure come with personal pressure?

“Not any more than I would normally put on myself to perform and to get better every day,” he said. “I don’t think there’s any pressure as far as comparisons. I do want to reach that double-digit mark but there’s no way to control it other than taking it day by day.”