Packers coach Matt LaFleur addresses media after 2024 season ends
Packers coach Matt LaFleur talks about the state of the team as they move on to the offseason and look ahead to 2025.
Seventh in a 2024 Packers position grades series.
GREEN BAY − Grading the Green Bay Packers defensive ends for the 2024 season.
A first-time Pro Bowler in sixth NFL season despite declining pressure numbers, a testament to what peers in league think of his game. Even on down year statistically, remained Packers best pass rusher.
Led defense with 43.5 total pressures, including 8.5 sacks playing all 18 games. Slow start in first year as defensive end in 4-3 scheme, reacclimating to rushing from three-point stance. Three total pressures in opener against Eagles, including sack on outside speed rush when right tackle Lane Johnson wrongly thought play would be blown dead for offside, creating easy path to quarterback Jalen Hurts. Did not touch a quarterback again until middle of October, four straight games without a QB hit. Only six total pressures in those four games, all hurries. Ended drought chasing down Cardinals’ Kyler Murray for a quarterback hit Week 6. A week later, got season back on track with three hits on Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, including easy sack unblocked when left guard Tytus Howard filled in at right tackle and tripped onto back side kicking into stance off snap. Added three pressures to force third-down incompletions against Stroud. Finished with 33.5 pressures in final 12 games after just 10 in first six, showing increased comfort with new defense.
Still has blend of power and speed moves necessary for top pass rushers. Beat Lions left tackle Taylor Decker with bull rush for half sack on third-and-4. Used bull to beat Bears left tackle Braxton Jones on late sack in Chicago. Outside speed rush against 49ers right tackle Colton Mckivitz led to third-and-5 strip sack on Brandon Allen. Good adjustment on inside speed rush for third-and-5 sack against Jared Goff in Detroit. Bull rush beat Seahawks right tackle Abraham Lucas for third-and-2 sack. Recovered fumble on Keisean Nixon strip sack against Saints. Later used outside speed rush for pressure that led to a dropped Zayne Anderson pick. Always plays with high motor, closed season with outside speed rush to beat Eagles Johnson for sack.
Drew two holding penalties. Batted one pass at line of scrimmage. By far best season as a run defender. Set hard edge more consistently than ever before. Shed Lions right tackle Penei Sewell on tackle for loss from 1-yard line. Beat Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson at line of scrimmage on tackle for loss late in season. Finished with 11 run stuffs, career-high 10 tackles for loss. Allowed five runs of at least 10 yards, none of at least 20. Lone touchdown run allowed came when crashing hard on action fake against Jacksonville, giving up outside contain on Trevor Lawrence 6-yard run. Missed tackle on Jalen Hurts keeper in playoffs, leading to 10-plus-yard run. Finished with only three missed tackles in 50 chances, though one came on potential sack against Sam Darnold in Minnesota. Another sack was wiped out on a Preston Smith offside penalty in Tennessee. One offside penalty.
Has flashes of being dominant pass rusher. In size and speed, has few rivals in the league. Never consistently puts it all together. Fits better as a No. 2 pass rusher, but overall game makes him a highly functional starter for a good defense.
Grade: B-minus
Kingsley Enagbare grade
Somehow avoided knee surgery last offseason after partially tearing ACL in playoff game at Dallas, staying on field to play 540 snaps in all 18 games. Provided good depth on edge, important piece in rotation. Too often elevated to bigger role in pass rush.
Had some monster games in 2024. Four pressures Week 3 in Tennessee, including pair of sacks. Made Titans left tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere fall to knees on inside speed rush, finishing with hellacious hit on Will Levis to force fumble. Rushed unblocked up middle for another sack on Levis. Missed third sack on Levis, but pressure set up third-and-7 sack for Preston Smith. Had three pressures including pair of sacks Week 15 in Seattle. Beat Seahawks right tackle Abraham Lucas with inside power for sack.
Plays with high motor, added chase sack running down quarterback Sam Howell. Beat Vikings right tackle Brian O’Neill on spin move to force third-and-7 incompletion with quarterback hit against Sam Darnold. Finished with 19 total pressures, including 4.5 sacks. Drew one holding penalty. Despite potential, too inconsistent to be full-time edge rusher.
Struggled against run, allowing four carries of at least 10 yards, two of at least 20 and three touchdowns. Bowled over at goal line against Saquon Barkley in opener. Shot too far up field on rush to open hole on edge for Rams back Kyren Williams to scamper 30 yards. Driven off line of scrimmage against Lions right tackle Penei Sewell on David Montgomery’s 3-yard touchdown. Lost contain crashing line of scrimmage on Seahawks back Zach Charbonnet’s 24-yard touchdown. Blown off edge against left guard Landon Dickerson on opening play in wild-card loss to Eagles, allowing 10-plus-yard run for Barkley.
Added seven run stuffs, six tackles for loss. Stayed home on reverse against Lions receiver Kalif Raymond, dropping him for 11-yard loss. Set hard edge on third-and-1 run stuff against Dolphins. Beat Seahawks tight end A.J. Barner’s cross-sift block on tackle for loss. Missed nine tackles, three for potential sack.
Four offside penalties, one illegal use of hands, one unsportsmanlike conduct. Horse-collar tackle chasing down quarterback Caleb Williams ignited Bears game-winning drive in regular-season finale.
Situational rusher, has the twitchy athleticism needed for depth on the edge. Didn’t finish enough plays to be reliable at top of depth chart.
Grade: C
Lukas Van Ness grade
Two years after being drafted in first round because of potential upside as physically gifted pass rusher, has yet to show significant development. After promising rookie season rushing mostly with hand on the dirt, figured to profile ideally in switch to 4-3 defense. Saw a big regression in second season instead.
Finished with 16 total pressures, including three sacks. A decline from 23 total pressures, including five sacks in rookie season. Played 459 snaps in 18 games, 16 more than rookie year. Played at least 50% of snaps in a game only twice, never after October. Occasionally won pass rush with speed or bull but does not have well-developed arsenal of moves. Does not bend enough to consistently win off edge with strength and speed alone. First sack didn’t come until Week 3, cleaning up a Rashan Gary pressure. Later recovered Will Levis fumble after Kingsley Enagbare strip sack.
Appeared to be making resurgence in November. Beat pull block from 49ers right guard Dominick Puni and plowed through Christian McCaffrey in backfield for strip sack against Brandon Allen, finishing with perfect tackle putting helmet on football. A week later, sacked Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa on extended play moving up in pocket. Did not have a sack after Week 13. A year ago, had four sacks after Week 13.
Too often lost contain on edge in run game. Allowed six runs of at least 10 yards, two of at least 20, two touchdowns. Did not allow a 20-yard run in 2023. Sealed inside against Texans tight end Dalton Schultz on Joe Mixon’s 32-yard run, opening huge hole off tackle. Allowed 39-yard touchdown for Bears back D’Andre Swift when tight end Cole Kmet sealed him inside. Added eight run stuffs, six tackles for loss. Had eight tackles for loss in rookie year.
Took backward step in every phase. Simply must be better in 2025 to avoid becoming first-round bust.
Grade: C-minus
Brenton Cox Jr. grade
Undrafted rookie in 2023, spent most of that season as a healthy scratch on 53-man roster. Got opportunity in second season after Preston Smith traded to Steelers. After being a healthy scratch in first nine games, was active against Bears following bye week.
Played 160 snaps in final games and showed enough to get another opportunity in 2025. Beat pull block against Bears right guard Matt Pryor on impressive tackle for loss against D’Andre Swift. Later recorded first career sack against Caleb Williams. Unblocked on sack, but showed athleticism off edge as playing time increased. Outside speed rush beat Dolphins left tackle Patrick Paul for sack. Two weeks later, put Seahawks left tackle Charles Cross on skates with bull rush, sacking Sam Howell on third-and-7. Returned to outside speed against Saints right tackle Trevor Penning for sack. Finished with 14 total pressures, including four sacks. More quarterback hits and quarterback hits and sacks than Lukas Van Ness despite truncated season.
One roughing passer penalty. Needs to be more disciplined setting edge in run game. Lost contain for pair of runs of at least 10 yards. Did not allow touchdown run. Should also add strength to anchor better against head-on blocks. Knocked off ball on fourth-and-inches against Lions right guard Kevin Zeitler, allowing first down to set up game-winning field goal inside final minute.
Intriguing prospect who was five-star recruit leaving high school, showed enough pass rush potential to compete for job this offseason.
Grade: C-minus
Arron Mosby grade
Cracked 53-man roster out of camp after spending all of 2023 on practice squad. Minimal production as depth rusher in edge rotation.
Recorded first career sack with impressive bull rush on third down against Lions right tackle Penei Sewell, meeting Rashan Gary at quarterback for half credit. Used bull rush against Vikings left tackle Cam Robinson to hurry Sam Darnold into interception. Finished with five pressures, including a half-sack.
Did not allow a 10-plus-yard or touchdown run, though bit on play-action fake allowing Bears quarterback Caleb Williams to scramble outside pocket for first down on fourth-and-1. Two run stuffs. Lone tackle for loss came unblocked against Dolphins. Missed three sacks, including potential sack against Williams on Bears game-winning drive at Lambeau Field.
In 150 defensive snaps, did not show same pass rush potential as Brenton Cox Jr. Added 258 special-teams reps.
Grade: D-plus
Preston Smith grade
A rare veteran in NFL’s youngest locker room, had his moments during sixth season in Green Bay.
Opened with run stuff and half-tackle for loss, setting hard edge on pair of Jalen Hurts keepers in Brazil. Recorded two sacks Week 3. Cleaned up a Kingsley Enagbare pressure with sack on third-and-7. Later beat Titans right tackle Jaelyn Duncan with outside speed for sack. Later called for offside penalty erasing Rashan Gary sack, one of two offsides this season. Beat Rams right tackle Rob Havenstein with spin move for half-sack. Finished with 10 pressures in nine games, including 2.5 sacks.
Allowed three runs of at least 10 yards, two of at least 20 and one touchdown. Two tackles for loss. Did not miss tackle in 19 chances. Leaked inside and gave up contain on 20-plus-yard run against Colts. Didn’t pick up Jaguars running back D’Ernest Johnson in coverage, allowing 20-plus-yard catch. Blocked inside against Lions right tackle Penei Sewell, allowing 15-yard touchdown run for Jahmyr Gibbs on fourth-and-1.
Traded to Steelers two days later after requesting to be moved from Jeff Hafley’s 4-3 system. Played 308 snaps before trade.
Grade: Incomplete
