Packers 53-man roster predictions following 2021 NFL Draft

Outside linebackers (5)

Za’Darius Smith, Preston Smith, Rashan Gary, Jonathan Garvin, Randy Ramsey

The Packers’ pass rush remains mostly unchanged after the offseason.

A question entering the spring was whether Preston Smith would still be on the team with a big cap hit despite struggling last season. Smith will be hoping to recapture the consistency he showed two years ago when the Smith Bros. were the most productive pass-rushing duo in the league.

A Pro Bowler in both years with the Packers, Za’Darius Smith will be looking to make it three in a row and hit double-digit sacks once again. Smith will be one of the stars on defense for the Packers again in 2021.

Rashan Gary dominated late last season. If he can continue to build on those performances, he should be an every-week starter in Joe Barry’s defense and could have a breakout season.

Jonathan Garvin is a player to watch over the summer as he enters year two. His NFL.com draft profile in 2020 wrote that “there might be gold to mine if a coach can get it out of him”. The fact the Packers haven’t added another pass rusher might suggest they believe in Garvin’s potential and think he can have an increased role.

Randy Ramsey played the fourth-most special teams snaps for the Packers last year and provides some depth at outside linebacker.