The Green Bay Packers made a franchise-altering blockbuster deal for Micah Parsons last week, sending two first-round picks and Kenny Clark to the Dallas Cowboys.
They subsequently made their newest star the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history, signing him to a four-year, $188 million contract extension with $120 million in guaranteed money.
Rashan Gary led the team with 7.5 sacks in 2024, with no other player recording more than 5.0. After reaching his first Pro Bowl in 2024, the seventh-year veteran seemingly has the most to gain from the move. He was listed as the Packers' X-factor heading into the 2025 season.
Rashan Gary labeled as Packers X-factor as they push for fifth Super Bowl title
The Packers' big-time move to acquire Parsons shows that the franchise is aiming to compete for its fifth Super Bowl in 2025. Gary was labeled as Green Bay's biggest X-factor prior to the deal, however, that sentiment rings even truer following the blockbuster for Parsons. Ben Solak of ESPN wrote:
"The average NFL edge rusher (minimum 200 pass rush snaps) had a pressure rate of 12.3% last season. Gary led all Packers edge rushers at 13.4% -- the worst mark for a season in his career... Gary is a solid three-down player, and some of his drop-off in pressure rate can be explained by what defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley asked of him."
Gary stands to benefit tremendously from the addition of Parsons. While he has averaged 8.0 sacks per season since 2021 despite missing nine games in that stretch, he has always seemed better suited for a role as the second pass rusher, as he has yet to post a double-digit sack season.
Trading for Parsons figures to improve the defense as a whole, making the unit one of the best in the league. If Gary is able to turn in a better season than 2024, Green Bay could hoist the Lombardi Trophy for the first time in a decade and a half.