The Green Bay Packers had a chance to really jump-start their rebound with a good pick at #12 overall in the draft. People were wondering who they’d take. Some felt in might be offensive line, a wide receiver, or maybe a linebacker. In the end, they delivered a minor shock when they took Michigan defensive end Rashan Gary.
Gary was viewed as one of the most physically gifted prospects in the draft. A standout athlete with speed and quickness to go with plenty of size. However, he also comes with questions. For all that ability, he didn’t exactly exert his presence in college. Across three years, he managed just 9.5 sacks total.
It seems the pick didn’t impress some Packer fans. Luke Inman, a prominent draft expert who covers the Vikings learned that much shortly afterwards.
Packers fan reaction to Rashan Gary makes sense on several fronts
Green Bay already signed two pass rushers in free agency with Preston Smith and Za’Darius Smith. Sure a team can never have enough guys who can go after the quarterback, but in this case it doesn’t seem like the most ideal fit. Gary was compared to Ezekiel Ansah by NFL.com, a man who spent his entire career as a 4-3 defensive end.
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He’s noted for not being a guy who wins with speed or quickness. Power is his game and that’s top typical of a 3-4 outside linebacker. Perhaps the Packers feel they can coach him up to adjust. He’s a good enough athlete but the red flags with him are hard to ignore.
Indeed there’s also the noted fact that Gary is dealing with a torn labrum in his shoulder. While expectations are he can play with it this year, he will have to have it surgically repaired at some point. So he’s already dealing with health issues before he plays a snap in the NFL.
