In case this is your first piece in the series, Cheesehead TV is currently doing a position group assessment for the roster to break down where each unit stands heading into the offseason program and training camp. Naturally, because Za’Darius Smith is involved, I chose edge rushers. And let’s be honest here, the edge unit is absolutely loaded in Green Bay. This is likely the easiest assessment to write. Let’s get to it! 

We’ll get into each contributor in more detail, but right now there are three roster locks in Za’Darius, Preston Smith, and Rashan Gary. The fourth spot vacated by Kyler Fackrell in free agency remains up for grabs, and there’s plenty of talent to push for that last rotational spot. Not only did the Packers draft Jonathan Garvin in the seventh round, but Green Bay also has quite a few undrafted free agents and returning practice squad players competing for what’s likely only one final roster spot. 

Za’Darius Smith (27)

I could (well, did) write a poem about Za’Darius Smith and the impact he’s made on this Packers defense. Not only from a talent perspective, which we’ll get to in just a second, but the way he’s become a locker room leader and captain for this team. It’s too early to compare his career arc to that of Reggie White or Charles Woodson, but Z is an early favorite for General Manager Brian Gutekunst’s most impactful free agent signing (despite it being so early in his tenure).

Now, onto the stats. There’s not much to say about Z that hasn’t already been said, so I’ll try to keep this brief. Za’Darius had a career-high 13.5 sacks during the regular season and a whopping 37 quarterback hits (tied for first in the NFL) in 2019. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Z also led the league in disruptions with 84 during the regular season. 

Preston Smith (27)

Just like Za’Darius, Preston has come in and made an immediate difference for this Packers edge rushing unit. He also set a career-high in sack totals with 12, making Preston and Z the first duo in Packers history to tally 12-plus sacks in the same season. Perhaps what’s most impressive about Preston would be his third-down numbers, with seven of his 12 sacks coming on third down in 2019. 

While Preston is the less outspoken member in the Super Smith Bros duo, he’s done just as much for the locker room, making his presence felt both on and off the field in Green Bay. And luckily, both Smith Bros are under contract in Green Bay through 2023. 

Rashan Gary (22)

Gary’s coming into an important second year for the Packers. While he only played 24% of snaps on defense in 2019, with Kyler Fackrell’s departure, that number should increase significantly. For reference, Fackrell played 40% of defensive snaps for Green Bay in his final season. Gary quietly tallied two sacks of his own this past season (to Fackrell’s one sack) and has put a lot of promise on film. 

As a first-round draft pick, there’s a lot riding on Gary’s 2020 season in regards to his development, but with both Smiths taking 84% of snaps on defense, he’s still a player that will need to work his way into the rotation in specific packages. Still, Gary is a promising young talent on defense and has the third edge rushing spot locked in for 2020. Now let’s talk about the guys behind him battling for spot number four. 

Jonathan Garvin (20)

There’s a lot to like about Jonathan Garvin, Green Bay’s second seventh round draft pick. Perhaps what’s most intriguing about him is his age. At only 20 years old, he certainly fits the mold of a Gutekunst pick - that mold being an ascending, young player with a great relative athletic score (8.99). Per Pro Football Focus, Garvin tied for team lead at Miami in total pressures during the 2019 season with 46. He also has a pass rush grade of 88.2, which was second highest among all ACC defenders with a minimum of 200 snaps.

Garvin is an intriguing blend of length and agility, which is apparent by his nickname “Spider.” He was expected to be drafted higher than the seventh round, so there’s a lot of potential there for Garvin. But as far as potential is concerned, here’s my favorite quote from him:

“As far as untapped potential, yeah, there's a mass of it. I haven't hit my prime yet," Garvin said. "I have years to go to hit my prime. By the time the contract is done, I still won't be in my prime and I'll still keep on growing and developing."

That sure sounds like a guy that’s ready to blow the doors off of Lambeau and get to work.

Tim Williams (26)

Before the Packers drafted Garvin, Tim Williams was my choice for the fourth roster spot at edge. That’s not to say he still can’t be the guy and beat out Garvin, but initially, he was my fourth rusher. Williams was drafted in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens, and since then, he’s never really been able to live up to his draft stock. 

In his two and a half seasons with Baltimore, Williams played in 19 games with two sacks, 18 total tackles, and five quarterback hits. He was signed by Green Bay off waivers in October of 2019, played in one game for the Packers (without posting any stats), and was added to the practice squad after being released from the active roster. 

At Alabama, Williams put together 57 total tackles with 30 for a loss and 20 sacks, with three passes defensed, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries. The upside is there in his game, and his familiarity playing with Z in Baltimore might help him acclimate to the defense, but he’s still got a long way to go to claim the fourth edge spot. 

Randy Ramsey (24)

Randy “Rambo” Ramsey is another name to keep an eye on as training camp approaches. He had a fantastic preseason in 2019 and likely just missed the roster in favor of the veteran Kyler Fackrell. Luckily, the Packers were able to stash him on the practice squad after cut-down day. 

Ramsey was a versatile addition to the Arkansas defense during his time there, listed as playing linebacker, defensive end, and along the defensive line. His college numbers are impressive as he finished with 106 total tackles with 19.5 for a loss, 8.5 sacks, two passes defensed, two fumble recoveries, and five forced fumbles. Given his strong 2019 showing and his familiarity on the practice squad, Ramsey could make a strong push for that last edge position. 

Greg Roberts (24)

Roberts signed with the Packers as an undrafted free agent in May of 2019, but required offseason core surgery and was added to the physically unable to perform list for all of training camp and the preseason. He remained on the PUP list almost all season and began practicing with the team in December. 

In a crowded room after having limited practice snaps last season, Roberts is going to have a lot to prove going into this year’s training camp. At Baylor, Roberts had 81 total tackles with 15.5 for a loss and three sacks with nine passes defensed and one forced fumble. If you look at his highlights, he’s also the player that got ejected from a game for fighting with now Bears running back David Montgomery. 

Tipa Galeai (23)

Galeai is an undrafted free agent who recently signed with the Packers to compete for the final edge spot. He played two seasons at TCU before being dismissed from the program. He transferred to Utah State for his junior and senior seasons (which means yes, he knows Jordan Love). At Utah State, Galeai tallied 119 total tackles with 22.5 for a loss and 15 sacks. He also snagged two interceptions (returning one for a touchdown) with three passes defensed, three forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. In 2018, Galeai led the Mountain West Conference in sacks with 10. 

Delontae Scott (23)

Scott is the second undrafted free agent that signed with the Packers this past week. He played his entire collegiate career at SMU and recorded 97 total tackles with 35 for a loss and 17 sacks, including two passes defensed and two forced fumbles. The SMU defense led the nation in sacks in 2019, with Scott contributing 10 to the team’s total.

A fun note: former Packers safety Chris Banjo was also an undrafted free agent out of SMU. Could Scott be the next? 

Summary

The edge rushing unit improved dramatically in 2019 after being an area of weakness in 2018. As of right now, and given the team’s recent history, it feels like there will be six players battling for one final roster spot behind Za’Darius, Preston, and Gary. It’s possible though that Green Bay could opt to keep only three inside linebackers and five outside edge rushers given the versatility a lot of the linebackers possess, and the way that defensive coordinator Mike Pettine likes to utilize a safety in the box. Keep an eye on this position heading into training camp, as there’s going to be a lot of competition for what likely will end up being only one or two roster spots. Today, Garvin, Williams, and Ramsey would be my early favorites for the last slot(s).