Packers Facing Edge Rusher Shortage as 2026 NFL Draft Approaches

Green Bay must address its biggest need at edge rusher before the season starts.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 8:22pm

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting a football player in motion, their body broken down into sharp, angular shapes in shades of green and gold, conveying the Packers' need to reconstruct their pass rush.The Packers' pass rush faces a critical shortage as the 2026 season approaches, forcing the team to explore creative solutions to bolster their edge defense.Green Bay Today

The Green Bay Packers are heading into the 2026 NFL season with a major hole at edge rusher after losing key contributors Rashan Gary, Kingsley Enagbare, and Micah Parsons to trades, free agency, and injury. With limited draft capital, the Packers will need to explore veteran free agent options to bolster their pass rush.

Why it matters

The Packers' defense was heavily reliant on their edge rushers in 2025, and the loss of that production could significantly impact their ability to pressure opposing quarterbacks and compete in the NFC North. Addressing this need is crucial for Green Bay to remain a contender.

The details

The Packers lost their top three edge rushers from 2025 - Rashan Gary was traded to the Cowboys, Kingsley Enagbare signed with the Jets, and Micah Parsons is still recovering from a serious injury. This leaves Lukas Van Ness and Barryn Sorrell, who combined for just 3 sacks last season, as the likely starters. The Packers don't have a first-round pick in the 2026 draft, so they'll need to look to free agency or the trade market to find an immediate impact player.

  • Rashan Gary was traded to the Dallas Cowboys in the 2026 offseason.
  • Kingsley Enagbare signed with the New York Jets in free agency this offseason.
  • Micah Parsons is still recovering from a serious injury and likely won't be ready for Week 1 of the 2026 season.

The players

Rashan Gary

A former first-round pick by the Packers, Gary was traded to the Dallas Cowboys this offseason after recording 12.5 sacks in 2025.

Kingsley Enagbare

Enagbare was a key edge rusher for the Packers, recording 8 sacks in 2025, before signing with the New York Jets in free agency.

Micah Parsons

The Packers' star edge rusher is still recovering from a serious injury and likely won't be ready for the start of the 2026 season.

Lukas Van Ness

Van Ness is expected to be one of the Packers' starting edge rushers in 2026 after recording 2 sacks last season.

Barryn Sorrell

Sorrell is also expected to start at edge rusher for the Packers in 2026 after recording 1 sack in 2025.

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What they’re saying

“The Packers might as well post a 'help wanted' sign outside the facility. Micah Parsons likely won't be ready for Week 1, Rashan Gary was traded, and Kingsley Enagbare left for the New York Jets. They ranked first, second, and fifth, respectively, in sacks among the team in 2025. There isn't a more pressing concern for Green Bay than its ability to get after the quarterback.”

— Caio Miari and Daniel Valente, Reporters

What’s next

The Packers will likely need to sign a veteran free agent edge rusher, such as Jadeveon Clowney, A.J. Epenesa, Joey Bosa, or Haason Reddick, to provide a stopgap solution until Micah Parsons returns from injury.

The takeaway

The Packers' loss of key edge rushers this offseason has left them with a glaring weakness heading into the 2026 season. Unless they can find an immediate impact player through free agency or the trade market, their ability to pressure opposing quarterbacks could be severely compromised, putting their playoff hopes in jeopardy.