General Manager Brian Gutekunst strengthened the Green Bay Packers' pass rush during the NFL Draft by selecting edge rushers Barryn Sorrell and Collin Olliver in the fourth and fifth rounds, respectively. Additionally, he bolstered the interior with defensive tackle Warren Brinson in the sixth round. These are promising additions, but Super Bowl LIX highlighted one critical truth that should keep all options open for the Packers until the start of the 2025 regular season:
You can never have too many pass rushers.
Green Bay boasts a diverse pass rush group, but the unit failed to meet expectations in 2024. They finished the season ranked 27th in pass rush win rate, with their pressure leader, Rashan Gary (47 pressures), ranking just 31st in total pressures among all edge rushers. While it's undeniable that the Packers have talent up front, their efforts to improve the front seven should not end with the Draft. Fortunately, an 11-year veteran has just become available on the market.
Jadeveon Clowney pressures Bears quarterback Justin Fields during their 2021 matchup.
© PHIL MASTURZO via Imagn Content Services, LLC
On Thursday, the Carolina Panthers released Jadeveon Clowney following his one-season stint with the team in 2024. Clowney, a former first overall pick in 2014, has been named to the Pro Bowl three times and earned Second-Team All-Pro honors in 2016.
Last year, Clowney recorded 44 pressures and 5.5 sacks, figures that would have made him the second-most productive pass rusher on the Packers' roster.
"You're always looking. With pass rushers, you can never have enough," Brian Gutekunst said after the 2024 season. "I thought there were times this year we did that, we were able to rush with four men. Every team in the league, that's how you'd prefer to do it, rush with four and affect the quarterback with four. There were periods of times where we didn't do that well enough, everybody understands that. That affects your football team."
Clowney has played at least 12 games in five of the last six seasons and has been a productive run defender. However, if the Packers were to sign him, it could signal that a player like Kingsley Enagbare may be on the move.
Rashan Gary, Lukas Van Ness, Collin Olliver, and Barryn Sorrell are all locks to make the final roster, while Brenton Cox Jr. should also have a chance. While it's true that you can never have too many pass rushers, General Manager Brian Gutekunst must ensure the roster remains well-balanced across all phases.
