Rashan Gary was selected with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers. He was met with mixed reactions from the diehard fan base, but that will soon turn to completely positive reviews once the fans actually see him put in work on the gridiron.
Green Bay has made it clear this offseason that they want their defense to take a step forward. Brian Gutekunst went out in free agency and signed both Preston and Za'Darius Smith, and also signed safety Adrian Amos away from the Chicago Bears. In the draft, the Packers took Gary and safety Darnell Savage.
Even though there are some question marks surrounding Gary with his work ethic and college production, he is exactly what the team needed to bring in with their first pick in the first round.
Last season with the Michigan Wolverines, Gary ended up compiling 38 total tackles to go along with 3.5 sacks. The numbers don't pop off the charts, but Gary was facing double and triple teams often. In Green Bay, he will be given the opportunity to play alongside great pass rushers and learn the ropes from very solid veterans.
Standing in at 6-foot-5 and 285 pounds, Gary also is a physical freak. That is something you have to love about this pick.
Let's dive in and take a look at three reasons why selecting Gary as the right move for the Packers at No. 12.
3. Gary's College Production Is Thrown Out the Window
First and foremost, what Gary did in college means absolutely nothing. He is now in the NFL and will be working with an NFL coaching and developmental staff to get the best out of him and put him in the best position to succeed.
No matter how much disappointment surrounded Gary's numbers at Michigan, he is a member of the Packers. Nothing matters anymore about his past production.
He will have a fresh start and that is exactly what he needs.
2. The Packers Have the Pieces to Mentor Gary
Secondly, there is no better landing spot for Gary than Green Bay. He can learn the ropes from the Smith's and will also have a chance to work with a great defensive coordinator in Mike Pettine.
If there is a team that can unlock his full potential, the Packers are a good bet. Pettine loves having physical specimens in his defense and Gary brings strength, speed, agility, and the ability to read plays to the table. Green Bay may not be getting a perfect prospect ready to be a star right away, but Gary's future is incredibly bright.
1. He Has the Raw Talent to Be a Superstar
Very rarely do teams have the opportunity to draft a generational talent, but that is exactly what Gary can be. Throughout his entire football career, he has been viewed as a superstar. That changed a bit in college, but there is still no denying his raw talent and his ability in the right fit.
The Packers have to feel good about the future with Gary. He was genuinely thankful to be drafted and is ready to get to work. Assuming he stays healthy and the Packers' coaching staff work well with him, Gary is going to turn into a star and will be a major threat to be reckoned with for the entire NFL.
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