The New England Patriots could be looking for pass rush help this offseason, but they should avoid signing Rashan Gary, who Green Bay Packers insider Matt Schneidman thinks will be released.
"I would be surprised if Gary is on the team next season," Schneidman wrote for The Athletic on Tuesday. "I’ll put it like that. According to OTC, his cap number of approximately $28 million is the second highest on the team behind quarterback Jordan Love. Gary is making too much money to be producing as little as he did in the second half of last season. Releasing him would free up about $11 million in cap space for a team that needs more space."
The Packers traded for Micah Parsons last season, and he was phenomenal before his ACL tear. However, the expectation was that all of the attention Parsons would draw would make Gary even better after his 2024 Pro Bowl campaign. The season started that way, with Gary posting 7.5 sacks in seven games.
However, Gary fell off hard after his two-sack night in Pittsburgh. In his next nine games, he had no sacks and only seven quarterback hits. He failed to get many pressures and often looked like he ran out of gas, giving up in pursuit. On top of that, for what he figures to cost, he does not play as many snaps as other stars. He has played 70% of defensive snaps only once in his career.
If Gary is released, he will certainly draw interest in free agency. However, he is not going to be worth what it's going to cost to sign him for the Patriots. He has never posted a double-digit sack season in his career. K'Lavon Chaisson played less pass rush snaps than Gary last season and had just as many sacks.
Despite a Pro Bowl nod and 46.5 career sacks, Gary could end up being fool's gold if he hits the open market.
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