Green Bay Packers select Rashan Gary: Grade, reaction for 2019 NFL Draft
The Green Bay Packers continued to focus on defense in the 2019 NFL Draft, selecting Rashan Gary with the 12th pick. Grading the selection.
During the 2010 season, back when the Green Bay Packers had their Super Bowl run, one of the prominent contributing factors was a great pass rush. The man who held it down for a decade was former USC linebacker and former first-round pick Clay Matthews (now with the Rams). The Packers are hoping to bring that back after selecting Rashan Gary with the 12th pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Like Matthews, Gary provides the Packers defense with an explosive athlete who can come hard off the edge. However, unlike some of the other edge defenders in the 2019 draft class, Gary didn’t have the numbers and production while at Michigan that would normally warrant a top 15 pick. In fact, NFL Spin Zone’s very own Cory Kinnan saddled Gary with a second-round grade.
There’s no question that the lack of production is the primary reason Gary was not considered an elite player. After all, Gary only managed nine sacks and 18 tackles for loss for the Wolverines in his college career. It was his teammates, Devin Bush and Chase Winovich, that dominated the competition in regards to productivity.
The Packers are hoping that defensive coordinator Mike Pettine can get the best out Gary, who is a dominant athlete. He proved his physical dominance and potential during the 2019 NFL Combine. Gary came in 6-4, 277 pounds and ran a 4.58-second 40-yard dash while jumping 38 inches in the vertical.
Next. 2019 NFL Draft: Grades for every first-round pick. dark
If Gary can perform to the standards of his elite athletic traits, he could find himself in a few Pro Bowls. Still, was he a better option than Brian Burns and Montez Sweat, two players staring them in the face with much better tape? Time will tell.
Grade B-