The Green Bay Packers head into the 2023 season with a lot of questions. With Jordan Love taking over at starting quarterback and a lot of talented but inexperienced players at the offensive skill positions, the team’s performance this year is more difficult to predict than it has been in years. But one thing GM Brian Gutekunst still needs to do this offseason is signing edge rusher Rashan Gary to a contract extension.
Gary Is the Packers Best Pass Rusher
Last season, Gary was the team’s best pass rusher. The former Michigan star has gotten better each season since the Packers selected him in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He had a career-high 9.5 sacks in 2021 when he started all 16 games.
In 2022, Gary was off to a great start and recorded six sacks in the first eight games of the season. Unfortunately, Gary suffered a season-ending knee injury in the Packers Week 9 loss to the Lions. He is still in the process of rehabbing his injury and was not a full participant in practice at OTAs or minicamp. It is still unclear if Gary will be ready to start the season on time in September or if he’ll have to start the 2023 campaign on the PUP list.
The Cost of a Rashan Gary Extension
Gary is under contract to the Packers for the coming season as he plays on his fifth-year option. He is currently going to be an unrestricted free agent next offseason if the Packers don’t sign him to a new deal.
The Packers will have more cap space next season than they do right now. In 2024, the dead cap hit from the poorly structured deal the Packers signed Aaron Rodgers to in 2022 will be off the team’s books. That gives the Packers more room to sign Gary to an extension.
The price of signing a star player to a new deal almost always goes up each year. If the Packers wait, it will almost certainly be more expensive to sign Gary next offseason. In addition, the closer Gary gets to free agency, the more leverage he’ll have.
The Packers would be gambling a bit on Gary returning to form after his knee injury. But he has an excellent work ethic and thus far is looking fit and just as athletic as he was before the injury.
A Rashan Gary Extension Saves Cap Space
By signing Rashan Gary to an extension this offseason, the Packers could also free up some cap space for this season. That could help Gutekunst add a key veteran player as a backup quarterback, at receiver or tight end or any other position. It would also lock up Gary for the rest of his prime.
Either way, the Packers want to keep Gary beyond 2023. Edge rusher is a premium position in the modern NFL. With young talent like Lukas Van Ness and Kingsley Enagbare also on the roster, the future at edge would be very bright if Gary is signed to a new deal.
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