Regardless of how the 2025 NFL draft plays out, the Green Bay Packers are hoping for a big jump internally to power the biggest improvement from the pass-rushing group next season.
Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said the team needed to get better rushing the quarterback with a four-man defensive line in 2025 but then didn't sign an edge rusher or a defensive tackle during free agency. Why? He believes a second year in the new defensive system under Jeff Hafley will benefit both the players and the coordinator.
"I hope a big one," Gutekunst said when asked about the pass-rush taking a leap forward in 2025. "I thought they took a big jump during the season last year, by the end of the year we were playing some really good football on defense. So, I'm excited to see what Year 2 brings. Not only with our players, but Jeff was out of the league for a little bit, his ability to adjust in-season, now having a full offseason, knowing our players better, knowing the league a little bit better. I'm excited to see what we can do on defense."
The Packers had flashes of dominant pass-rushing ability last season, but it was never consistent, and it too often disappeared in big games -- facts even Gutekunst doesn't deny. Still, the Packers' roster builder believes his defensive line has "everything" required to go play high-level football right now, and he's not going to chase an edge rusher or defensive tackle during the draft because he believes in the developmental potential of the players already on the team.
"I think we can do everything we need to do with the players we have on our roster right now," Gutekunst said. "I think there's a significant amount of improvement for those guys, not only in Year 2 of a scheme, but just individually as well. We've invested in that quite a bit already, and I'm excited to see the growth that those guys will have. If the draft happens to bring us some more ammunition in that category, great. But it's not something we have to go chase."
The Packers have first-round picks Kenny Clark, Rashan Gary, Devonte Wyatt and Lukas Van Ness returning, plus veterans such as Kingsley Enagbare, Karl Brooks and Colby Wooden and an emerging edge rushing talent in Brenton Cox Jr. In theory, a big investment has already been made, and the talent level should be enough. But the Packers weren't good enough rushing the quarterback in Hafley's first season, even if the defense overall took big steps in the right direction.
There is always risk in banking on internal development because there's no guarantee it will arrive, no matter how confident a team is in the players and coaches. Then again, there is risk in losing faith in the process and investing valuable resources that could block development for others or could be used better elsewhere on the roster.
The Packers can be highly confident in the current state of the roster along the defensive line -- a reality made clear by the team's spending in free agency and Gutekunst's own words -- and still invest during the draft. Long-term roster needs still exist at both edge rusher and defensive tackle. If the Packers' pass-rush improves in 2025, expect internal development with a sprinkle of rookie assistance to power it.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers banking on internal improvement from pass-rush, won't chase DL during draft
