The Green Bay Packers have done a great job in recent seasons of drafting and developing talent. They could be the youngest team in the NFL for the second straight year, as they have very few established veterans to rely on. However, one of them is edge rusher Rashan Gary.
A first-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft out of Michigan, Rashan Gary has been productive for the Packers in his first five seasons in the NFL. Last season, despite being on a pitch count and working his way back from a torn ACL, he registered 9.0 sacks.
In October, the team rewarded him with a long-term extension. It was beneficial for both sides, as the Packers avoided having to deal with it in the ensuing offseason. For Rashan Gary, he now has a locked-in long-term deal.
However, in the opinion of Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report, that extension is one that the Packers could soon regret. Nearing his prime and lack of accolades to this point is what Gagnon points to as reasons for concern.
“There’s no denying his talent, but Gary is now 26 and five years into his career. He’s never been a first- or second-team All-Pro, nor has he been a Pro Bowler. His numbers haven’t taken off, and his consistency is sometimes lacking. Has he peaked?”
Not even in his prime, it would be hard to imagine that Rashan Gary has reached his peak. Having an offseason to focus on his game instead of having to rehab could result in the best season of his career.
Gagnon does make a point that he hasn’t reached that upper echelon of pass rushers in the NFL. His career high is only 9.5 sacks, as the Packers are paying for future production as much as what he has accomplished to this point.
Should Rashan Gary take his game to another level, the extension won’t be one that the Packers regret; it will become a steal. Pass rushers are expensive and Green Bay has a potential steal with an emerging player who barely cracks the top-20 in total guaranteed money.
