Finding consistency in the Green Bay Packers’ pass rush has been a season-long struggle. Part of the problem stems from uneven production from their top edge rusher, Rashan Gary.
How inconsistent has Gary been? Well, heading into the final week of the regular season, he has fewer total pressures (44) than Aidan Hutchinson (45). Granted, the Detroit Lions edge is one of the best defensive players in the NFL. He also hasn’t played since Week 6.
If you were lucky enough not to see the injury, Hutchinson suffered a gruesome leg injury during the second half of Detroit’s game against the Dallas Cowboys, ending his season. But before getting hurt, Hutchinson had been on an absolute tear.
Pro Football Focus still has Hutchinson as their highest-graded player in the league. He also remains at the top of the leaderboard for the highest pass-rush win percentage (38.4) among all defensive linemen.
Gary, meanwhile, was voted to his first Pro Bowl on Thursday. However, that accolade fails to uphold Gary as one of the best edge rushers in football this season.
Gary’s 44 pressures in 2024 ranks tied for 45th among edge rushers, while his 12.8 pass rush win percentage is 38th among edge rushers with at least 100 pass-rushing snaps. Another glaring statistic is that Gary’s 6.5 sacks this season are also fewer than Hutchinson’s 7.5, despite playing 330 more defensive snaps.
In Gary’s defense, he is playing in a new scheme, and his play has improved as the season’s progressed. Since the bye, he has registered four sacks and 24 of his 44 pressures.
Still, those numbers don’t measure up to the production that was expected when Green Bay handed him a four-year contract extension last season that made him a top-10 paid player at the position.
This season, though? There is nothing to suggest that Gary has even been a top-30 edge rusher.
Entering the year, the Packers were counting on Gary to continue his ascension as one of the best pass rushers in the NFL. Unfortunately, that hasn’t come to fruition, as Gary has been outperformed by a player who hasn’t played in nearly three months.
As the playoffs approach, Green Bay needs Gary to find another gear. If he can, the Packers’ defense could reach a new level and become even more of a serious threat for opposing teams. If not, his underwhelming season may prove costly when it matters most.