Latest news with #JeffHafley
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Packers defense has a new fumble-forcing emphasis for 2025 season
The Green Bay Packers defense has a new emphasis entering the 2025 season, and early returns at training camp are good. According to Wes Hodkiewicz of Jeff Hafley's Packers defense wants to force more fumbles this season, and the group is motivated by the current NFL record for forced fumbles in a season. Through four days of training camp practices, the Packers have punched a few footballs out of the hands of ball-carriers, suggesting the emphasis is translating to the field. Last season, the Packers forced 16 fumbles. The NFL record is 34, set by the New York Giants in 2010. To reach the goal would require Hafley's defense to more than double last season's output, but as the old saying goes, you get what you emphasize at the professional level of football. The Packers were plenty good forcing fumbles last season. Twelve different players forced a fumble for the Packers in 2024, including Keisean Nixon (3), Carrington Valentine (2) and Kingsley Enagbare (2). The 14 turnovers caused off forced fumbles ranked the Packers third in the NFL. But Hafley wants more. Part of forcing fumbles is arriving violently and intentionally at a ball-carrier, using a punch technique to pry the ball loose or having multiple players rally to the ball-carrier to provide an opportunity to strip it away. But a bigger part of the forced fumble equation is the strip sack, which the 2010 Giants all but mastered. That season, Osi Umenyiora forced an NFL-best 10 fumbles, and Umenyiora and Justin Tuck combined for an incredible 15 forced fumbles on their own. The Packers will need edge rushers such as Rashan Gary and Lukas Van Ness to actively hunt the ball when pressuring the quarterback, and pass-rushers in general must do a better job targeting the ball when closing in on the quarterback in 2025. Training camp is providing the testing ground. "You see guys come out in practice, anytime they're close to the ball, anytime anyone's close to the ball, punching at it violently," second-year safety Evan Williams told Hodkiewicz. "We're talking about angry, violent intentions. The picks are great, obviously, but I feel like it's another thing to go get a forced fumble because no ball carrier is going to give you the ball." The Packers ranked in the top five for takeaways in Hafley's first season as defensive coordinator, thanks to a strong mix of interceptions (17) and recovered fumbles (14). Interceptions are game-changing plays, but forcing a fumble often requires a more intentional act from the defense. Can the Packers punch out more footballs, create more strip-sacks and generate even more takeaways in 2025? This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers defense has a new fumble-forcing emphasis for 2025 season
Forbes
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
5 Burning Questions For The Green Bay Packers' Defense
The Green Bay Packers hope second-year linebacker Edgerrin Cooper (56) is poised for a breakout ... More season. By most measures, the Green Bay Packers' defense made major strides in 2024. The Packers jumped from 17th to sixth in total defense. Green Bay finished sixth in points allowed after placing 10th in 2023. The Packers vaulted from 28th to seventh in rushing defense. And Green Bay forced 31 turnovers (fourth overall) after taking the ball away just 18 times in 2023 (23rd overall). First-year defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley was innovative, aggressive and a major upgrade from underwhelming Joe Barry. 'I thought Jeff Hafley did an amazing job coming in here in year one,' Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said. 'Those guys really grew together, and they were a unit. I thought we were playing our best football on defense at the end of the year.' Now, Hafley's unit will try to build on their solid, but far-from-spectacular 2024. Green Bay's lost nose tackle T.J. Slaton in free agency and released injury prone cornerback Jaire Alexander, who missed or couldn't finish 38 of the Packers' last 68 games. Cornerback Nate Hobbs was Green Bay's biggest addition in free agency. That means the majority of the defense is back and potentially poised for big things. When training camp begins Wednesday, here are five burning questions for Green Bay's defense.1. Is four enough? Jeff Hafley had to have defensive envy. Hafley, the Packers' defensive coordinator, never could get consistent pressure with his front four last season. So Hafley cranked up his blitz percentages on third and long (45.2%) and third and medium (54.4%) situations. Meanwhile, Philadelphia had one of the lowest blitz percentages in the league, ranking 29th overall at 20.2%. The Eagles still got terrific pressure with four, which was a major reason they became Super Bowl champions. 'We need to affect the quarterback more in our front four, with just four players,' Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said. 'That's gotta get better if we're going to accomplish our goals.' Gutekunst didn't select a defensive lineman until the fourth round in April's draft, when he took Texas edge rusher Barryn Sorrell. So last year's group must crank their games up. Tackle Kenny Clark is coming off an injury plagued season (foot) that was the worst of his nine-year career (one sack, four TFLs). End Lukas Van Ness played with a broken right thumb and posted disappointing numbers of three sacks, six quarterback hits and six tackles for loss. Tackle Devonte Wyatt shined early with three sacks in the first four games. Wyatt missed Weeks 5-7 with an ankle injury, though, and had just two sacks the rest of the year. And while Rashan Gary had a team-high 7.5 sacks and made his first Pro Bowl, he doesn't finish enough. Green Bay's front four of Gary, Clark, Wyatt and Van Ness are all former first round draft picks. Three battled injuries last year and are hoping improved health means greater productivity. Packers coach Matt LaFleur also fired defensive line coach Jason Rebrovich after the season and hired former New England Patriots defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington. Green Bay finished ninth in the league with 45 sacks last year. The pressure was inconsistent, though, and Hafley had to get creative with his blitz packages. 'Anytime you can get pass rush with your front four and allows you to play coverage, it makes it extremely difficult on the offense,' LaFleur said. The Packers need their front four to make things more difficult in 2025.2. Is Cooper the Packers' next great linebacker? In 2009, Green Bay rookie linebacker Clay Matthews finished his first season with a bang, then parlayed that into a 13.5-sack season in 2010. Could Edgerrin Cooper have similar success in 2025? Cooper averaged just 14 snaps per game the first four weeks of 2024. He made dramatic strides, though, and finished the year with 13 tackles for loss — which led all NFL linebackers and all rookies. 'He's special, man,' Packers defensive end Kingsley Enagbare said of Cooper. 'I feel like he's a future Hall of Famer.' Cooper was second on the Packers with four turnover plays, fifth in sacks (3.5), fifth in passes defensed (four) and sixth in tackles (77). Cooper was also the only player in the NFL with 75-plus tackles, 13-plus tackles for loss, three-plus sacks, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Amazingly, Cooper did all that despite playing just 45.1% of the defensive snaps. Now, after bulking up to 240 pounds and maintaining his explosiveness, Cooper could be ready for a huge season. 'He's locked in and he's focused,' Hafley said of Cooper. 'Now he knows what he's doing. Your rookie year you're kind of in survival mode a little bit too. So he just needs to be more consistent. He's gotta stay healthy and continue to improve and he's a guy that we're really excited about because he can do a lot of different things too.'3. Can the corners hold up? Green Bay's top three cornerbacks of Keisean Nixon, Nate Hobbs and Carrington Valentine probably won't cause sleepless nights for offensive coordinators. The group should be able to play winning football, though. Jaire Alexander didn't play after Week 11 last season, meaning the Packers went with Nixon and Valentine down the stretch. Green Bay allowed a respectable 18.4 points and 225.6 passing yards in those eight games. The Packers then signed free agent corner Nate Hobbs to a four-year, $48 million contact in March. While many believe cornerback is Green Bay's weakest positional group, the Packers seem to feel otherwise. 'We feel pretty good about our group right now,' Gutekunst said. 'The guys that we have in that room, they've got some pelts on the wall, so to speak, as far as what they've been able to do in the National Football League. So, we'll kind of see how that goes.' There is reason for optimism. Nixon posted career-highs in tackles (88), tackles for loss (eight) and sacks (three) last season. He also had a team-leading three forced fumbles. Valentine started the final seven games for the oft-injured Alexander and finished with his first two career interceptions, forced two fumbles and added five passes defensed. And the versatile Hobbs can play outside or inside, but must clean up his missed tackle rate of 22.2%. 'Guys hungry, want to play ball,' Nixon said. 'I played with Nate (in Las Vegas). C.V. (Valentine) is ready to go. I played every playoff game since I've been here with C.V. Secondary is good.'4. Can the turnovers continue? One reason the Packers' defense fared as well as they did last season was their ability to take the ball away. Green Bay forced 31 turnovers, which ranked fourth in the league. That was also the Packers' most takeaways since 2011, when they had 38. Green Bay's 17 interceptions were the fourth-most in football. And its 14 fumble recoveries ranked third. 'We get to play with vision on the quarterback, and I love doing that,' Packers safety Xavier McKinney said last season. 'And I know we do as a defense because we're able to play with our instincts, we're able to call out different things, see different things and be able to just trust in what we see and go out there and make a play.' The Packers averaged 22.7 takeaways per season under coordinator Joe Barry from 2021-'23, including just 18 in 2023. Green Bay also averaged 19.3 takeaways per season under coordinator Mike Pettine (2018-2020) and 27.9 under coordinator Dom Capers (2009-2017). McKinney was an enormous reason for Green Bay's improvement, as he finished with eight interceptions, a fumble recovery and was named first-team All-Pro. Cornerbacks Keisean Nixon (three forced fumbles, one interception) and Carrington Valentine (two interceptions, two forced fumbles) were also part of four turnover plays. Can it continue? At least one returnee believes so. 'I'm not going to lie: We're going to be dangerous,' second year safety Javon Bullard said. 'We're going to be dangerous. And I'm not just saying that. We're going to be a special group.'5. Big games, little performances As good as Green Bay's defense was in Hafley's first season, the unit failed miserably in big games. The Packers allowed 28.7 points and 361.2 yards per game in their six contests against NFC powers Detroit, Minnesota and Philadelphia. Not surprisingly, Green Bay was 0-6 in those games. The fewest points the Packers' allowed in those games was 22 against Philadelphia in their Wild Card loss. And that total would have been higher if Eagles running back Saquon Barkley hadn't turned down a 59-yard touchdown run late in the game, choosing instead to fall down to help run out the clock. 'I can't sit up here and say we're on the same level if we ain't beat them,' safety Xavier McKinney said of Green Bay's subpar performances against the NFC's elite. 'In order to be on the same level, you gotta beat these teams.' Quarterbacks Jared Goff, Sam Darnold and Jalen Hurts combined to throw 14 touchdown passes and five interceptions against Green Bay in those six contests. And the Packers dug themselves double digit deficits in five of those six games after allowing an average of 17.0 points in the first half. 'Big games all year, we didn't finish,' cornerback Keisean Nixon said. 'We've got to learn how to finish. It doesn't matter how good our roster is or who we've got on our team. The other players are good, too. We've got to learn how to finish. We learn how to finish, we're going to be Super Bowl ready.'
Forbes
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
The Most Important Packers: No. 2 — Xavier McKinney
Green Bay Packers safety Xavier McKinney finished second in the NFL with eight interceptions last ... More season. The Green Bay Packers went 11-6 last season, sweeping the NFC West and the AFC South along the way. Overall, though, no one in the building was happy. The Packers failed to build on their terrific finish to the 2023 campaign, settled for the No. 7 seed in the NFC playoffs, and lost a Wild Card game to eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia. Afterwards, general manager Brian Gutekunst turned up the heat on everybody in the building. 'We need to continue to ramp up our sense of urgency,' Gutekunst said. 'I think it's time we started competing for championships.' Those are fair expectations. The Packers return 20 of 22 starters, and appear to have upgraded the roster via free agency and the draft. With several third and fourth year players trending upward, Green Bay should be poised to make a move. 'I think they're ready,' Gutekunst said. Now, it's time for the Packers to prove their G.M. right. Green Bay's first training camp practice is Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. Since late June, I've been counting down the '30 Most Important Packers' heading into the 2025 campaign. At No. 2 is safety Xavier 2 Xavier McKinney, S Last season When Green Bay hired defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley in Jan., 2024, this is how he described his perfect safety. 'I want a guy who can erase things,' Hafley said. 'We got to eliminate explosive plays when we play this defense, so if a run hits up the middle, this guy's got to come out of the middle field with his hair on fire, he's got to be able to get a guy down. I also want him to be a guy, when a ball carrier is wrapped up, he goes and he finishes off the pile. 'I want a guy who can go from sideline to sideline and take the ball away. I think that position has to be a guy with high ball production, meaning he's got to be able to intercept the ball. He's got to be a guy that can communicate and he's got to be a guy that can get guys lined up and make some calls back there and I'd love a guy that can play man, so I guess I'm describing the perfect player to you, but those are some of the traits I'd look for in playing that position.' It's almost as if Hafley was describing Xavier McKinney. McKinney finished second in the NFL with eight interceptions last season and was named first-team All-Pro. He also posted 85 tackles, led the Packers with 11 passes defensed, had two tackles for loss, a sack, a fumble recovery and a quarterback hit. McKinney's 128 return yards after interceptions were the most by a Packer since Charlie Peprah had 147 in 2011. He also had the most interceptions by a Packer since Charles Woodson had nine in 2009. McKinney had an interception in each of his first five games and became the first player since 1970 to record interceptions in each of the first five weeks on a new team. McKinney was also the type of leader Green Bay needed in back after playing the 2023 season with underwhelming Darnell Savage, Rudy Ford and Jonathan Owens at to date The 25-year old McKinney spent his first four seasons with the New York Giants, then signed a four-year, $67 million deal with Green Bay in March, 2024. McKinney was rated the No. 4 safety in football by Pro Football Focus in 2023 with top-10 grades in both coverage and in the box. In 592 coverage snaps in 2023, McKinney was targeted 53 times and didn't allow a touchdown. McKinney had been the 36th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. He played in just six games his rookie season due to a fractured foot. But McKinney rebounded with a strong 2021 campaign when he had a career-high five interceptions (including one for a touchdown) and 93 tackles. McKinney missed eight games in 2022 after an ATV accident in Cabo during the team's bye week, then rebounded with a terrific 2023 season. McKinney ruffled some feathers by publicly criticizing former Giants' defensive coordinator Wink Martindale in his final season with the Giants. But the Packers believed McKinney would be a terrific fit in coordinator Jeff Hafley's 4-3 defensive scheme. 'I just think he's a unique player to come available,' Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said of McKinney. 'He's one of the top safeties in the game, a guy that can be a game-changing type player. And he really kind of fits a little bit of a criteria we're looking for in a free agent, not only as a player, but as a leader back there.'Outlook The Packers can't ask much more than what McKinney delivered in 2024. But there's also no reason to expect a dropoff. McKinney is just 26 years old and in his prime. He's a perfect fit in Hafley's defense and should only be more comfortable in his second year in the scheme. 'Second straight All-Pro, that's obviously the goal that I'm reaching for,' Hafley said. McKinney's hands are sublime, and unlike most safeties, when he gets near a ball, he seems to always catch it. He's the eyes and ears of the back end. And his value to the safety group is tough to measure. 'The guy just has a knack for the football and he's got great ball skills,' Packers coach Matt LaFleur said of McKinney. 'He's very instinctive and smart to allow him to anticipate, to make plays, and then he generally makes the play.'They Said It … 'He holds himself to such a high standard where he doesn't want to make mistakes, and it shows. That's what your really good players — every play matters, just like it does to us. So that's the biggest kind of look-in I can give you to what he's like. He's always wanting to be on top of his stuff. The details, the execution, the competitor. That's who he is, and that's why he's a really good player.' — Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley on McKinney'I like to say, I have my foot on their necks, and really it's going to be the same. I'm not going to let off the gas for nothing or nobody. That same intensity, that same energy, it's going to stay the same. Obviously I know what I want to accomplish by the end of my career and I know that in order to hit that goal these years are going to matter. So I take that seriously, I don't take that lightly. So for me it's just keep grinding, keep my head down, and keep locking in on the small details so I don't get complacent and I keep having these All-Pro years.'— McKinney on the next steps for him in 2025'It grew pretty tremendously that first year. This offseason, we've been staying in contact, bouncing ideas back and forth. Through this OTA series, we've been able to watch film, watch a few other teams and how we'd go through these type of plays – how he sees it, how I see it and just being able to have that open line of conversation.' — safety Evan Williams on his relationship with McKinneyTHE TOP 30 • No. 30 — RB MarShawn Lloyd • No. 29 — WR Dontayvion Wicks • No. 28 — S Javon Bullard • No. 27 — WR Savion Williams • No. 26 — LB Isaiah McDuffie • No. 25 — OL Jordan Morgan • No. 24 — WR Matthew Golden • No. 23 — CB Carrington Valentine • No. 22 — WR Romeo Doubs • No. 21 — QB Malik Willis • N0. 20 — DE Lukas Van Ness • No. 19 — RG Sean Rhyan • No. 18 — LT Rasheed Walker • No. 17 — DT Devonte Wyatt • No. 16 — S Evan Williams • No. 15 — CB Nate Hobbs • No. 14 — LB Quay Walker • No. 13 — OL Aaron Banks • No. 12 — CB Keisean Nixon • No. 11 — K Brandon McManus • No. 10 — TE Tucker Kraft • No. 9 — WR Jayden Reed • No. 8 — DT Kenny Clark • No. 7 — RT Zach Tom • No. 6 — Elgton Jenkins • No. 5 — DE Rashan Gary • No. 4 — RB Josh Jacobs • No. 3 — LB Edgerrin Cooper
USA Today
18-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Packers training camp preview: Who are the newcomers to 90-man roster in 2025?
The Green Bay Packers added 30 new players to the 90-man roster since the end of the 2024 season. Who are all these newcomers coming to training camp? The Packers added veteran free agents, draft picks, undrafted free agents and players on futures deals this offseason. To help preview training camp, here's a quick introduction to the newcomers to Green Bay this summer, listed by uniform number: No. 6: WR Mecole Hardman How acquired: Signed in free agency (Chiefs) The former Chief has elite speed, three Super Bowl rings and an All-Pro nod as a returner. He could provide gadget value for Matt LaFleur while giving the Packers a designated returner on special teams. No. 17: WR Sam Brown Jr. How acquired: Signed as undrafted free agent (Miami) The rookie was a teammate of Matthew Golden at Houston. After catching 149 passes at the collegiate level, Brown (6-2, 200) ran the 40-yard dash in 4.44 seconds and hit 41.5" in the vertical leap. No. 19: QB Taylor Elgersma How acquired: Signed as undrafted free agent (Wilfrid Laurier) Elgersma won the equivalent of the Canadian Heisman Trophy (Hec Crighton Trophy) last season. He participated at the Senior Bowl and was signed by the Packers after a rookie minicamp tryout. No. 21: CB Nate Hobbs How acquired: Signed in free agency (Raiders) The former Raider signed a four-year, $48 million deal with the Packers in free agency. A tough and physical corner, Hobbs is expected to feature in the slot while also playing snaps on the perimeter as a starter for Jeff Hafley. No. 22: WR Matthew Golden How acquired: First-round draft pick (Texas) The Packers' first first-round pick at wide receiver since 2002. Golden has elite speed and is coming off a breakout 2024 season with Texas. No. 26: CB Micah Robinson How acquired: Seventh-round draft pick (Tulane) Robinson, the first of the Packers' two seventh-round picks, will get a chance to compete with Kalen King and Kamal Hadden for a 53-man roster spot as a backup corner. No. 28: LB Isaiah Simmons How acquired: Signed in free agency (Giants) The eighth overall pick in the 2020 draft arrives in Green Bay with a chance to focus on linebacker in Jeff Hafley's system. He could be a subpackage weapon defensively and a multi-phase player on special teams. No. 35: S Kahzir Brown How acquired: Signed as undrafted free agent (FAU) Big defensive back (6-1, 223) who picked off eight passes during his collegiate career. No. 35: RB Jalen White How acquired: Signed as undrafted free agent (Georgia Southern) Productive collegiate running back and a legendary high school running back from Alabama. No. 37: DB Johnathan Baldwin How acquired: Signed as undrafted free agent (UNLV) One of the Packers' priority free agent signings in undrafted free agency. Can play safety or in the slot. No. 38: CB Gregory Junior How acquired: Signed in free agency A sixth-round pick of the Jaguars who played in 10 regular season games for the club between the 2022 and 2023 seasons. No. 45: DE/LB Collin Oliver How acquired: Fifth-round draft pick (Oklahoma State) An elite athlete who played both edge rusher and off-ball linebacker and put up big-time disruption numbers at Oklahoma State. The Packers think he can do both at the NFL level. No. 46: CB Tyron Herring How acquired: Signed as undrafted free agent (Delaware) Three-time all-conference pick who played his final two collegiate seasons at Delaware, where he intercepted four passes for the Blue Hens. No. 46: RB Amar Johnson How acquired: Signed as undrafted free agent (SDSU) Productive and versatile running back who made plays as a runner, receiver, blocker and returner for South Dakota State. No. 47: CB Isaiah Dunn How acquired: Signed futures contract in January Played in 12 games as a rookie with the Jets in 2021 and five more with the Seahawks in 2022. No. 48: LB Jamon Johnson How acquired: Signed as undrafted free agent (Kentucky) An All-American at Georgia who was consistently productive as a standout SEC linebacker. No. 60: OL Tyler Cooper How acquired: Signed as undrafted free agent (Minnesota) Rookie was a 21-game starter at guard for the Golden Gophers over the last two seasons. No. 60: DL Keith Randolph How acquired: Signed to futures deal in January Originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Bears in 2024. Played in 42 games at Illinois. No. 61: OL JJ Lippe How acquired: Signed as undrafted free agent (Northern Illinois) A 47-game starter at the collegiate level who has experience at all five offensive line positions. No. 64: C Trey Hill How acquired: Signed futures contract in January Former draft pick of the Bengals has experience at center and guard and could compete for a backup job on the interior. No. 65: G Aaron Banks How acquired: Signed in free agency (49ers) The Packers' big free-agent signing. The former second-round pick of the 49ers is a strong pass protector and has power in the run game. He'll be the starting left guard. No. 69: DL Nesta Jade Silvera How acquired: Signed futures contract in January Seventh-round pick of the Raiders in the 2023 draft played in nine regular season games over the last two seasons. No. 71: OL Anthony Belton How acquired: Second-round draft pick (NC State) A massive offensive lineman who played left tackle in college and has the length, power and movement ability to be a tackle/guard option for the Packers. No. 72: OL Brant Banks How acquired: Signed as undrafted free agent (Rice) Rookie was a 12-game starter at right tackle in 2024 after starting 13 games at guard in 2023. No. 73: OL John Williams How acquired: Seventh-round draft pick (Cincinnati) The Packers' seventh-round pick is big, athletic and smart, and he fits the profile of a player the team has moved from left tackle in college to guard in the NFL. No. 78: DL Cameron Young How acquired: Signed in free agency (Seahawks) The 2023 fourth-round pick of the Seahawks could compete to be a defensive tackle or nose tackle for the Packers defensive front. No. 83: WR Savion Williams How acquired: Third-round draft pick (TCU) An exciting gadget weapon who played on the perimeter, in the slot, in the backfield and as a Wildcat quarterback for TCU. Some have compared him to Deebo Samuel. No. 91: DL Warren Brinson How acquired: Sixth-round draft pick (Georgia) The Packers' sixth-round pick has a big personality and the versatility to play multiple roles at defensive tackle in the 4-3 front. No. 93: DL Nazir Stackhouse How acquired: Signed as undrafted free agent (Georgia) Stackhouse (6-4, 327) had a draftable grade for most evaluators but didn't get picked. He'll have a chance to earn a legitimate role as a nose tackle during his rookie season. No. 99: DE Barryn Sorrell How acquired: Fourth-round draft pick (Texas) The Packers' highest draft pick on defense could be a rotational edge rusher right away for Jeff Hafley.
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Packers DE Rashan Gary ranks No. 80 in 'NFL Top 100 Players of 2025'
For the second consecutive season, Green Bay Packers edge rusher Rashan Gary has made the "NFL Top 100 Players" list. After ranking No. 50 entering the 2024 season, Gary checked in at No. 80 overall in "NFL Top 100 Players of 2025" list. The first 20 players on the list have now been revealed, and Gary is the first Packers player to make the list. Advertisement A first-time Pro Bowler in 2024, Gary produced 7.5 sacks, 15 quarterback hits, nine tackles for loss, 49 total pressures and a forced fumble across 17 regular season games for the Packers last season. His overall numbers took a step back -- Gary had 9.0 sacks and 22 quarterback hits in 2023 -- but a strong overall season, in which he became a top run-defending edge rusher -- helped keep Gary in the top 100 list. Gary moved from standup outside linebacker in the 3-4 defense in 2023 to a true 4-3 defensive end for Jeff Hafley in 2024. According to ESPN Analytics, Gary ranked first among all edge rushers in "Run Stop Win Rate" after producing 63 wins on only 170 plays in 2024. He also produced a career-high 33 stops, or a tackle creating a failure for the offense, per PFF. Advertisement However, Gary had only 47 pressures, down from 60 in 2023, and his pass-rush win rate dropped to 12.7 percent, which ranked 33rd among all edge rushers with at least 280 pass-rushing snaps in 2024. Despite getting a spot in the top 100 list, Gary did not make ESPN's list of top 10 edge rushers entering 2025. This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers DE Rashan Gary ranks No. 80 in 'NFL Top 100 Players of 2025'
