One of the biggest roster battles in the history of the Green Bay Packers is about to commence this training camp!

Okay, not really—but it’s still pretty intriguing in my opinion.

Looking at the current state of the Packers’ edge rusher group, I count four locks to make the team. Rashan Gary is still the leader of the group and should remain its most productive member for the foreseeable future—at least, that’s what the Packers are paying him to be. Lukas Van Ness is heading into a critical Year 3, where he really needs to take a step forward for the Packers to even consider a second contract.

Behind them are two 2025 rookies: fourth-rounder Barryn Sorrell, who I think will have the opportunity to play significant snaps right away (and is someone I’m very high on), and fifth-rounder Collin Oliver. Oliver is in a bit of an odd position. At 6’2” and 240 pounds, he doesn’t yet have the frame to hold up at edge on a down-to-down basis. He seems more like a designated pass rusher, at least for his rookie season, until he can add some functional weight and strength. That said, he’ll definitely be a factor on clear passing downs this year.

So, who gets the final spot?

Yes, I do think the Packers will break camp with just five edge defenders. Roster battles at safety, linebacker, corner, wide receiver, and maybe even running back are going to weigh heavily on special teams—likely forcing Jeff Hafley’s DE group to run a little lean. With just five spots and four essentially locked in, who gets the fifth?

Making a Case for Kingsley Enagbare vs. Brenton Cox Jr.

Case for Enagbare:

The case for Enagbare is straightforward. As of today, he’s the Packers’ best third edge rusher. If Green Bay had to play a game tomorrow (gotta love June football talk!), he’d be the best option not named Rashan Gary or Lukas Van Ness to rush the quarterback. Some might even argue he’s a better option than Van Ness right now.

If the Packers truly aim to compete for a championship in 2025, cutting their third-best pass rusher isn’t the best way to go about it. Enagbare is also solid against the run, finishing with a 64.5 PFF grade—77th out of 211 qualifying defensive ends.

Case Against Enagbare:

To start, he likely has the least upside in the entire pass rush group. Entering his fourth NFL season, he probably is what he’s going to be at the professional level: an average pass rusher who makes a few plays here and there but can disappear for stretches. He finished 2024 with a 56.0 overall PFF grade, ranking 140th out of 211 DEs.

He’s also entering the final year of his contract and will count over $3 million against the cap. While the Jaire Alexander move this week gave the Packers some breathing room, $3 million is still a meaningful number—especially with several extensions looming.

And then there’s trade value. Enagbare might be the Packers’ best trade chip at the position. If a team loses a DE to injury late in camp or is unhappy with their depth, the Packers could flip him for help at cornerback or another need.

Case for Brenton Cox Jr.:

Cox played better down the stretch than Enagbare did. While Enagbare started the season clearly ahead on the depth chart, Cox didn’t even suit up until after the Preston Smith trade in Week 10. Yet in the Wild Card loss to the Eagles, there was only a two-snap difference between the two—a sign the Packers see them on a similar level.

Cox finished with above-average PFF grades in both pass rush (72.0) and run defense (65.5), with an overall grade of 72.2—good for 40th among 211 qualifying DEs. The more he’s played, the better he’s looked. He’ll count just over $1 million against the 2025 salary cap and, as a restricted free agent next offseason, can be brought back at a team-friendly price.

Case Against Cox Jr.:

The biggest concern is the small sample size. Though he played well, he was inactive every week until Smith was traded. With only 160 defensive snaps logged in 2024, the question becomes: how will he hold up over a full 17-game NFL season (plus playoffs)?

That’s a gamble a Super Bowl contender may not be willing to take—especially if it means parting ways with a veteran before Cox has proven he can sustain his production. He also brings very little to the table on special teams. He logged just 9% of the team’s ST snaps last season, compared to Enagbare’s 41%. If he makes the team, he’ll have to handle more defensive snaps and likely more special teams work.

Prediction:

If it were up to me, I’d choose Brenton Cox Jr.

His combination of upside and contract controllability is something I think the Packers will value. Despite logging only 160 defensive snaps in 2024, he provided a much-needed spark to a struggling pass rush. His seven QB hits and four sacks were good for fourth on the team.

I’ve always been high on the former five-star recruit who likely would’ve been a relatively high draft pick if not for character concerns in college. I also believe special teams coverage will be helped by the team keeping both Isaiah Simmons (who might also offer help off the edge) and Kristian Welch.

It’s certainly not unreasonable for the Packers to carry both players, interestingly they are the same age even thought it feels like Enagbare has been around so much longer. It’s also not inconceivable for someone like Aaron Mosby, who hasn’t been mentioned yet, to insert himself into the conversation. But I think the Packers will roll with five, and that Brenton Cox Jr. will be the one given the full season to show what he can do.