General Manager Brian Gutekunst reinforced 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. He also strengthened the defensive line by adding tackle Warren Brinson in the sixth round. While these newcomers bring promise, Super Bowl LIX underscored an essential lesson that the Packers should keep in mind leading up to the 2025 regular season:
You can never have too many pass rushers.
The Packers feature a versatile group of pass rushers, yet the unit underperformed in 2024, ranking 27th in pass rush win rate. Their top performer, Rashan Gary, recorded 47 pressures—placing him only 31st among all edge rushers. Although there is undeniable talent in Green Bay’s front seven, their pursuit of defensive improvements shouldn’t stop with the Draft. Fortunately, a seasoned veteran just became available.
On Thursday, the Carolina Panthers released Jadeveon Clowney after a one-year tenure in 2024. Clowney, the first overall pick in the 2014 draft, is a three-time Pro Bowler and earned Second-Team All-Pro honors in 2016.
Last season, Clowney registered 44 pressures and 5.5 sacks—numbers that would have made him the Packers’ second-most productive pass rusher.
“You’re always looking. With pass rushers, you can never have enough,” Brian Gutekunst said following the 2024 season. “I thought there were moments when we rushed effectively with four guys. Ideally, that’s what every team wants—to pressure the quarterback with four. But there were stretches where we fell short, and everyone knows that. It impacts the whole team.”
Clowney has played at least 12 games in five of the last six seasons and remains a strong run defender. However, if the Packers decide to sign him, it could mean that a player like Kingsley Enagbare might be on the trade block.
With Rashan Gary, Lukas Van Ness, Collin Olliver, and Barryn Sorrell almost certain to make the final roster, and Brenton Cox Jr. also in the mix, Gutekunst must balance the roster effectively while keeping the pass rush as potent as possible.
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