It might have been nothing, it might have been something.
Did Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Mike Pettine provide a subtle hint about who is the early favorite to be the No. 4 outside linebacker?
The competition rages on, but the Packers are excited about seventh-round pick Jonathan Garvin, an edge rusher from Miami.
Pettine mentioned Garvin while discussing how the Packers would take some pressure off the shoulders of Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith while still replacing snaps from Kyle Fackrell, who departed in free agency.
“Rashan (Gary) is going to have a big part, a big role in what we’re doing, as well as Garvin,” Pettine said last week.
Garvin, the 242nd overall pick in the 2020 draft, is competing primarily with Tim Williams and Randy Ramsey – who were both in Green Bay last season – for the job behind the two Smiths and Gary.
“All those guys are solid players,” Pettine said.
Pettine said the Packers were intrigued with what Garvin put on tape at Miami.
“Garvin is a guy that had some good college tape who we were really pleased we were able to get him when we did in the draft,” Pettine said.
As a standout sophomore, Garvin produced 17 tackles for losses, 5.5 sacks and five pass breakups. His numbers slipped as a junior, and he didn’t test like an elite athlete at the combine, but he was still productive in 2019, tallying 44 pressures for Miami. His pressure percentage was still 14.8, according to Pro Football Focus, suggesting he might have been simply unlucky during his junior season.
Nicknamed “Spider” due to his long arms, Garvin has an intriguing mix of size and pass-rushing potential, especially considering he just turned 21 years old in late July.
While Gary will have a big role as the third edge rusher, all base 3-4 teams need at least four or five outside linebackers, creating a real opportunity for Garvin to land on the 53-man roster and start carving out a rotational role as a rookie.
“That’s a spot where there is some real good competition,” Pettine said.
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