Debuting in the Top 100 with a No. 50 ranking last year, Green Bay Packers defensive lineman, Rashan Gary saw a huge drop in his ranking. While it’s great to see the 27-year-old make the list in consecutive seasons, his new No. 80 ranking comes after a really solid 2024 season.
The Green Bay Packers playoff hopes were crushed by the eventual champions, Philadelphia Eagles. Gary recorded a sack in that contest, which puts his postseason career total at 4 1/2. No matter what his Top 100 ranking looks like, last season was a big one for Gary as he was named to the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career.
Pro Bowl Talent Falls 30 Spots in the Top 100
Each year, the National Football League has the difficult task of putting together the Top 100 names in the league. This year, the Packers star faced a huge drop in the rankings, even though he led the team in sacks (7 1/2) and QB hits (15).
Gary was named to the First-team All-Big Ten twice in his career. In 2017-18, Gary’s seasons at Michigan proved to be more than enough for him to be honored. The following year, Green Bay saw his potential as they selected him with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2019 draft.
While he only totaled 21 sacks in his rookie season, Gary’s numbers only went up from there. He’s yet to finish a season with under 32 tackles, a number he recorded in just nine games in 2022. The former first round pick tore his ACL in Week 9 that season, which was poised to be his breakout year.
Thankfully, the injury didn’t hold him back. Gary returned with a vengeance in 2023, with his nine sacks and 44 tackles both nearing career highs. His 2021 season still remains the best, as his 47 tackles are tied for the most in his career, with career highs in solo tackles (27) and sacks (9.5).
Gary’s 2024 Season Justifies His Ranking
Last season, Gary tied his career high in tackles. His 2021 number is even more impressive knowing that he did it in only 16 games. For the past two seasons, Gary has been at full health as he’s played in all 34 regular season games. Somehow, his 2021 season didn’t warrant a spot in the Top 100 but his last two seasons have.
NFL listed Gary’s NFL Pro Insight: “Rashan Gary generated pressure on 23.5% of his pass rushes on third down last season, sixth-highest among defenders with at least 75 pass rushes on third down. Gary managed to generate pressure on just 7.8% of his pass rushes on early downs.”
In the 2024 rankings, the league took note of his three-sack performance in Week 3 which is one of the many reasons why the team extended his contract. Gary won’t be an unrestricted free agent until 2028 as the team signed him to a four-year, $96 million contract. His $7M base salary in 2025 is nothing compared to the $18M he’ll make in 2026 and $21M in 2027.
As the first Packer player to crack the 2025 edition of the Top 100, Green Bay fans expect more to follow. Jordan Love had an injury plagued season, but it was a breakout year for the team’s newest signees: Josh Jacobs and Xavier McKinney.
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