Green Bay Packers 2018 roster preview: Vince Biegel

After missing the start of his rookie season due to injury, what can we expect from the Green Bay Packers’ second-year edge rusher Vince Biegel in 2018?

Selected in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft to help strengthen the Green Bay Packers’ pass rush, Vince Biegel got hurt in the spring.

After missing the entire offseason program, Biegel made a slow start when he finally got on the field for regular season action.

Now fully healthy, what’s next for the second-year player?

2017 stats

Playing in nine games, Biegel made 11 tackles. He finished the season without a sack. According to Pro Football Reference, Biegel played on just 11.5 percent of the team’s defensive snaps.

2017 review

There isn’t much to say about Biegel’s rookie season. The biggest story was the injury he suffered in the offseason. After requiring foot surgery, he missed the summer’s preparation for the new season, and was eased back into action when he was finally ready to play.

Biegel needs time to adjust to the NFL game, which he was unable to do due to injury last season.

Odds of making roster: 100 percent

The Packers need production from their young edge rushers. They can’t rely solely on the production of Clay Matthews and Nick Perry.

Biegel will be expected to step up in his second season, and he will play an important role in Mike Pettine’s defense.

2018 preview

In some ways, this is like Biegel’s rookie season. He will have learned a lot from his first year, even when he wasn’t playing, but he now has the opportunity to prepare fully over the summer.

If he can stay healthy throughout training camp, Biegel will be ready to start Week 1. We’ll finally be able to see just how good of a player he can be in Mike Pettine’s scheme.

The Packers need their young outside linebackers, like Biegel and Reggie Gilbert, to become consistent contributors to the pass rush.

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General manager Brian Gutekunst didn’t use a high draft pick on a pass rusher. He traded away the 14th overall pick, which the New Orleans Saints used to select edge rusher Marcus Davenport. Gutekunst instead used his top two picks to fix the secondary with cornerbacks Jaire Alexander and Josh Jackson.