The Green Bay Packers took steps toward addressing some of their biggest positional needs in free agency, but they notably didn't add an edge-rusher.
Green Bay became far too reliant on Micah Parsons last season, a problem the defense couldn't overcome once he tore his ACL in December. Having traded Rashan Gary and let Kingsley Enagbare walk, the Packers' need for pass-rush help is even greater than when their season ended over two months ago.
Appearing on the Wisconsin Sports Radio Network, former Packers Pro Bowler John Kuhn highlighted why the pass rush is far and away the team's biggest need as things stand.
"It's absolutely defensive end until Micah Parsons comes back and is playing 60 percent of the snaps, which, who knows when that is? Is that October?" Kuhn said. "But right now, it's absolutely the rush edge position. That's it."
Packers can't avoid the pass rush in the NFL Draft, even without a first-round pick
If the season started today, the Packers would rely on Lukas Van Ness, Barryn Sorrell, Brenton Cox, and Collin Oliver to lead the way at defensive end or outside linebacker, the exact position depending on how new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon has them aligned.
Van Ness battled injuries last season and failed to make a significant impact when healthy, recording just 1.5 sacks in nine games. Sorrell and Oliver played a combined 209 snaps in their rookie campaigns, while Cox has five career sacks as a backup in Green Bay.
The Packers will get Parsons back. That's the good news. Adding Javon Hargrave will give the defense some additional interior pressure, which also helps.
But Green Bay needs to add an early-round pass-rusher. GM Brian Gutekunst simply has to make it a priority. Championship defenses win up front, and the Packers struggled to win consistently without Parsons.
Nobody can replace him. As Kuhn points out, the defense needs to get by until he's ready to play 60 percent of the snaps consistently. That may not happen until midseason.
But even when Parsons is back at his All-Pro best on a full-time basis, the Packers need to support him. Part of that will require development from Sorrell and Oliver, who were Day 3 draft picks a year ago. Green Bay also hopes Van Ness can finally boost his production in what will likely be a contract year, unless the team exercises his fifth-year option.
Kuhn is right. The pass rush is the biggest problem as things stand. Parsons' eventual return will help, but the Packers can't afford to leave next month's draft without adding a pass-rusher with one of their top picks.