Rashan Gary Will Likely Be The Next Green Bay Packer To Break The Bank

The Green Bay Packers have the highest paid quarterback in the league with Aaron Rodgers averaging $50.3 million per season. Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander also ranks first at his positional group with an average salary of $21.0 million.

Green Bay’s David Bakhtiari ranks No. 2 among left tackles with an average salary of $23.0 million. And Kenny Clark received the second-highest signing bonus ever given to a nose tackle ($25 million) when he signed a four-year, $70 million deal in Aug., 2020.

The next Packer likely to break the bank is outside linebacker Rashan Gary.

Gary had a breakout season in 2021 with career highs in sacks (9.5), quarterback hits (28), tackles for loss (8.0), forced fumbles (two) and combined tackles (47). And with another big year in 2022, Gary could soon rank among the highest-paid outside linebackers in football.

“That would be my dream,” Gary said during the Packers’ mini-camp on Wednesday. “That would be my dream. But I’ve got to keep my head down and work and not look too far ahead or all this talk is just talk.”

Pittsburgh’s T.J. Watt has the highest average salary among outside linebackers at $28.002 million. He’s followed by Joey Bosa ($27M) and Khalil Mack ($23.5M) of the Los Angeles Chargers, Buffalo’s Von Miller ($20M) and San Francisco’s Fred Warner ($19.05M).

Watt received the highest signing bonus among outside linebackers ($35.6M), while Bosa ($102M) and Mack ($90M) had the highest amount of guaranteed money.

If Gary continues his upward climb, he could soon be making Watt- or Bosa-money.

The Packers picked up Gary’s fifth year option, which will pay him between $10.9 and $11.7 million in 2023. But if Gary performs this season like he did in 2021, Green Bay will try signing him to a long-term deal before the 2023 campaign ever arrives.

“To be honest man, I just try and stay focused and stay where my feet is,” Gary said. “That’s the Green Bay Packers and trying to build myself up so we can be a Super Bowl caliber team.”

Gary ranked 18^th in the NFL in sacks last year, but he was dominant in several other categories.

Gary was second in the league with 81 pressures and had a pressure every 8.4 snaps. He also had 56 hurries and 15 quarterback hits.

According to Pro Football Focus, Gary finished third in pass rush productivity (14.8) and second in win rate (35.2%) when rushing against a true pass set in 2021. Gary also received an overall grade of 89.3 from PFF last year, a dramatic jump from his grades in 2020 (54.1) and 2021 (67.1).

“He’s shown a lot of growth. He’s making big leaps,” fellow outside linebacker Preston Smith said of Gary. “He’s not making steps, he’s making big leaps each year. I’m impressed with him, how he’s improving each year. You don’t see younger guys improve that fast and in that way.”

Gary’s development has been remarkably impressive.

Gary was taken with the 12^th pick in the first round in 2019 and many believed Green Bay reached for him.

Gary wowed scouts at the 2019 NFL Combine leading all defensive linemen in the 40-yard dash (4.63), vertical jump (38 inches) and broad jump (10-0). But his production during his three years at Michigan was so-so (119 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, one forced fumble and no fumble recoveries) and the Packers were asking him to move from defensive end to outside linebacker.

Gary then played just 23.46% of the defensive snaps during a disappointing rookie year in which he was Green Bay’s fourth outside linebacker. Gary finished that season with 21 tackles, two sacks, three tackles for loss, and three quarterback hits. And in the Packers’ NFC Championship loss to San Francisco, he played just three snaps.

When the season ended, Packer Nation declared Gary a bust on social media talk radio and any other format they could find.

“It’s hard to tone that out, but you’ve got to realize the only people and opinions that matter are him and him and him,” Gary said, pointing to different teammates in Green Bay’s locker room. “Are you feeling me? And then when you’re inside football, you know how good you’re doing. You know your tools. People don’t get to see everything we’re doing in practice.”

Gary, who battles dyslexia, said it took him a full season to feel comfortable with Green Bay’s playbook. And by his second season, things started to click.

Gary had a quiet first half of the 2020 campaign when he dealt with an ankle injury. As he became healthier, his role and productivity increased — highlighted by a 1 ½-sack game against the Los Angeles Rams in the divisional playoffs.

Gary finished that season second on the team with 6.5 sacks and second in pressures with 30, despite the fact he played just 44.4% of the snaps. And it was clear, big things were in store.

“He’s going to be a big-time player for us and I think he’s going to be a big-time player in this league for a really long time,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said after the 2020 season. “And it all starts with that work ethic and the detail. Rashan’s working hard to develop multiple moves coming off the edge, but one thing that definitely jumps, we see it every practice and every game, is just the effort he plays with.”

When standout Za’Darius Smith played just one regular season game in 2021 due to a back injury, Gary was ready. His playing time jumped to 63.1% and his numbers exploded.

Now, at just 24 years old and in the prime of his life, Gary seems poised for a monster season. And if that happens, he’ll be the next Green Bay Packer with a gigantic contract.

“I leave all that to my people,” Gary said. “When it comes to money, that’s something I don’t worry about. I’m here to play football and I’m here to be the best player I can for this team.”