Brenton Cox Outranked Myles Garrett in Pass-Rush Productivity, and Nobody in the NFC North Is Ready For It

Alright, 12s, listen up! While we're still soaking up the early MLB season vibes, there's some wild NFL buzz already heating up, especially with training camps just around the corner. We're talking about the Green Bay Packers, and specifically, a situation brewing with Micah Parsons out potentially until October. Yeah, that's huge. But the real shocker? There's a guy named Brenton Cox who might just be the secret weapon, and his numbers from last season are gonna blow your mind.

Parsons' Absence Opens a Chasm, But Cox Is Already Filling It

Let's be real, losing Micah Parsons for any significant chunk of time is a gut punch for any defense. The Packers, who only stacked up 36 sacks last season, are looking at a colossal 24.5 sacks from their roster either being on the sideline or gone entirely. Parsons alone accounted for a whopping 12.5 of those. Think about that: more than a third of their total sack production walked out the door with one guy's injury. Devonte Wyatt chipped in four, and the rest of the edge rushers combined for another four. Everyone's been talking up Lukas Van Ness, who had four sacks in 17 games as a rookie, but the quiet hero who actually stepped up after the 2024 trade of Preston Smith was Brenton Cox. He snagged four sacks in just seven games after that move. That's serious production, people!

Cox's Ridiculous Metrics Are Hard to Ignore

Cox himself isn't shying away from the challenge. He said during minicamp, "I would hope so. A lot of the guys have had to pick up the slack since Micah has been out. And, you know, that’s what we’re here to do. I definitely think I’m talented enough to pi

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ck up the slack and get to the quarterback." And he's got the stats to back it up. After being inactive for the first nine games, Cox was too impactful on the practice field to keep off the game-day roster. In those seven games post-Smith trade, he rushed the passer 97 times. Get this: among 130 edge defenders who hit that mark, Cox finished 12th in pass-rush win rate, according to Pro Football Focus. But wait, it gets better. In PFF’s pass-rush productivity, a metric for sacks, hits, and hurries per pass-rushing snap, Cox finished second overall! He was ahead of names like Myles Garrett (third), Parsons (fourth), Trey Hendrickson (fifth), and Nick Bosa (sixth). Aidan Hutchinson was the only one ahead of him. That's not just good, that's elite company.

From Injury Setback to Redemption Arc?

Unfortunately, Cox couldn't build on that insane momentum right away. He suffered a groin injury in Week 1 last season and didn't return until Week 16. He did start the Week 18 game against Minnesota, racking up one sack and four pressures, proving he still had it. But when asked about the injury setback, Cox wasn't fazed, saying, "Not really disappointing. I played hard, got hurt. It happens. This year, just a better opportunity for me to show it again. You know, it wasn’t a fluke. It’s who I am, it’s who I’ve been on all levels of football. So, it’s great to be out there again and have another chance at it." So, as we gear up for the NFL season, with training camp right around the corner, this Brenton Cox situation is absolutely one to watch. The guy's got the talent and the mentality. Can he pick up the slack, stay healthy, and truly make that early-season impact? The Emerald City will be watching to see if he lives up to that incredible potential.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.