With pass-rush a need for Packers, edge rushers shine at NFL Combine
Edge rusher is very much a need for the Green Bay Packers this offseason. The good news is that this is a very deep class, with 11 edge rushers making Daniel Jeremiah’s top 50 big board, and many of these prospects had an impressive showing at the NFL Scouting Combine on Thursday.
During Brian Gutekunst’s tenure as GM, there has oftentimes been a connection between the players that he selects and how well they score on the RAS (Relative Athletic Score) scale. I took a closer look at that connection here, but in short, 30 of Gutekunst’s 42 RAS-eligible draft picks scored 8.0 or higher (out of 10), with 18 of those 30 scoring 9.0 or more. Only eight players have registered below 7.0.
This year’s edge rusher class, which was already highly rated, as I already referenced, had a large group not only clear that 8.0 mark but also put up elite numbers in certain individual events. Below is that list of players, along with their overall RAS scores.
Adetomiwa Adebawore, Northwestern, 9.85
YaYa Diaby, Louisville, 9.85
Lukas Van Ness, Iowa, 9.74
Isaiah Foskey, Notre Dame, 9.54
Byron Young, Tennessee, 9.25
Derick Hall, Auburn, 9.22
Nolan Smith, Georgia 9.20
DJ Johnston, Oregon, 9.17
Tavius Robinson, Ole Miss, 8.90
Ikenna Enechukwu, Rice, 8.76
Robert Beal Jr., Georgia, 8.51
Habakkuk Baldonado, Pitt, 8.47
Ochaun Mathis, Nebraska, 8.29
Isaiah McGuire, Missouri, 8.25
Out of the 20 edge rushers to have complete Relative Athletic Scores at this time, 13 of them were in the elite range of 8.0 or higher, which puts them in the top 20% athletically of all RAS-eligible edge rushers since 1987.
In addition to scoring well overall athletically, there are more specific preferences that the Packers appear to have at edge rusher. As Daire Carragher of Packer Report noted in a recent article, arm length and vertical jump are two metrics that Gutey has prioritized when selecting edge rushers in the draft. Of his three previous edge rusher selections as GM, all have had arms at least 34 inches long, and all had vertical jumps over 36 inches.
Another preference that Green Bay has at this position is that they prefer big bodies. Jonathan Garvin is the lightest edge rusher on the roster currently, weighing in at 257 pounds, while La’Darius Hamilton is the shortest, standing 6-2. Preston Smith and Rashan Gary, meanwhile, are both 6-5 and at least 265 pounds, with Gary nearing 280.
So from the list above, if we use these key metrics, which includes weighing at least 255 pounds, having a 36-inch vertical, along with roughly 34-inch arms, as benchmarks, the list of edge rushers that fit what the Packers have coveted in the past is whittled down to just three prospects.
Adetomiwa Adebawore, Northwestern
YaYa Diaby, Louisville
Isaiah McGuire, Missouri
Now, of course, this isn’t the be-all-end-all. There are a lot of other factors that will go into the Packers’ decision-making process, specifically the tape, but I do think being mindful of those measurements is worthwhile.
Without Rashan Gary for the second half of last season, while Preston Smith, JJ Enagbare, and Justin Hollins had their moments, the edge rusher position didn’t generate regular pressure on the quarterback. This is also an often rotated position, with typically four players seeing playing time throughout a game, and the depth is a big question mark again for Green Bay with Gary’s availability for Week 1 unknown and La’Darius Hamilton and Jonathan Garvin currently being the fourth and fifth options on the roster.
Pressure and a strong push from the defensive front are the quickest ways to disrupt any offensive play, and it benefits the entire defense. As we look for ways that this defense as a whole can improve in 2023, it begins up front.
Edge rusher is one of the most important positions in football. This is also an incredibly deep class that is testing extremely well, and there’s an obvious need for the Packers. All of which is a recipe for Gutey to spend an early-round pick on the position.
