We could talk for hours about how the Green Bay Packers’ pass rush was arguably the most disappointing unit on the team last season. Whether on the interior or off the edge, the defense’s inability to consistently generate pressure on the quarterback was astonishing – they finished 26th in pass-rush win rate.
There’s room for growth in every member of Green Bay’s defensive line. Rashan Gary has yet to evolve into a true game-wrecker, and Lukas Van Ness’ development seemed to stall in his sophomore year. Still, the Packers should have even more reason to be concerned about their interior pass rush.
Kenny Clark is part of an exclusive group who have signed a third contract with Green Bay. Last offseason, he and the team agreed to a three-year, $64 million deal, but Clark followed that up with a disappointing one-sack season after coming off a career-high in the same category in 2024.
Devonte Wyatt had a productive 2023 season, recording 5.5 sacks and 45 pressures, but his 2024 campaign was disappointing. He appeared in only seven games and didn’t start a single one. With 10 sacks over his first three seasons, Wyatt is entering the final year of his rookie deal. To have a shot at securing a second contract, he must deliver a breakout season, but there’s little evidence to suggest he’ll make that leap.
I will never speak ill of Cheeseheads Brazil legend Karl Brooks – he’s been a valuable rotational piece. However, that’s about it. Much like Colby Wooden, he’s contributed. Still, neither has shown the consistency to become a standout player in their respective roles.
Next year, we could be looking at an interior defensive line with Clark, who might regress even further, and two rotational pieces who haven’t been starting consistently. Who knows if Wyatt will return, but the truth is, the future of Green Bay’s interior pass rush is not looking promising right now.
There’s also reason for the Packers to worry about their edge rushers. Gary led the team with 47 pressures, but that ranked only 31st among edge rushers. Moreover, Keisean Nixon had the same number of sacks as Van Ness. Brenton Cox Jr. is a promising talent. He led all players on Green Bay’s defensive line in pass rush win rate. However, Cox played just the ninth-most pass-rush snaps of the group. It’s unclear if he can handle a larger workload while maintaining consistency.
Just because Gary hasn’t evolved into a game-wrecker doesn’t mean he’s a bad player. He led the defense in pressures last year and finished second in sacks in 2023. While Van Ness hasn’t developed as expected in his first two years, that doesn’t mean he’s entered bust territory. Remember, both players were adjusting to a new defensive system in 2024, and the second year is typically when things start to click for players.
On the other hand, who knows if Clark can return to his 2023 form? Moreover, Wyatt has shown no signs of making a leap. If none of these players bounce back in 2024, the Packers will have a significant hole on the inside. Green Bay can afford to think about its edge-rusher development plan beyond 2025, but that’s not the case with the interior.
Every player on Green Bay’s defense should have a sense of urgency to deliver results. However, from the Packers’ standpoint, immediate results from their interior defenders are crucial. With a real chance that neither of their two starters will be on the roster in 2026 and many important decisions looming that offseason, it would be beneficial to avoid making another major one.