Rashan Gary, Edge, Green Bay Packers
After two years in a situational role, Gary was afforded a full-time job by Za'Darius Smith's back injury last season and looked like a No. 1 edge rusher. He racked up 9.5 sacks and 28 quarterback knockdowns, with the latter ranking seventh in the NFL. The six players ahead of Gary all made it to the Pro Bowl.
Gary added two sacks and three knockdowns of Jimmy Garoppolo in the divisional-round loss to the 49ers. ESPN's video analysis suggests he generated the initial pressure of the opposing quarterback on 11% of his pass-rushing opportunities, which ranked 17th in the league, right alongside fellow breakouts Harold Landry and Randy Gregory.
With Smith now in Minnesota, Gary is in position to become one of the league's most impactful edge rushers.
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