The 97 Pass Rushes That Put Brenton Cox Next to Myles Garrett, and Why the NFC Should Be Terrified

Alright 12s, you know we live and breathe our Seahawks, but sometimes you gotta check out what's bubbling up in the rest of the NFC. And listen, what’s cooking over in Green Bay has huge implications for the entire conference. The biggest news? Micah Parsons, their undisputed sack monster, is expected to be out of commission until OCTOBER. Yeah, you heard that right. And with training camp just about a month away, the biggest question on everyone's mind is a massive one: who in the world is gonna get after the quarterback for them?

The Sack Vacuum Parsons Leaves Behind

Last season, the Packers only managed 36 sacks as a team. Now, get this: Parsons alone accounted for 12.5 of those. A staggering 24.5 sacks from last year's roster are now either on the sideline or playing for another squad. That leaves a measly 11.5 sacks returning, with Devonte Wyatt contributing four and all other edge rushers combining for four more. Sure, there's a lot of chatter around Lukas Van Ness, and for good reason, but his career-high is just four sacks in 17 games as a rookie. That’s not exactly the kind of production you need to fill a Parsons-sized hole. Someone has to step up, and fast.

Brenton Cox's Secret Weapon Status

Here’s where things get interesting, and frankly, a little shocking. Remember when the Packers traded Preston Smith back in 2024? Everyone thought it was to open the door wider for Van Ness. Turns out, the real beneficiary was Brenton Cox. This dude was inactive for the first nine games of the season, but he was tearing it up so hard on the practice field that they couldn't keep him benched. In the seven games after Smith's trade, Cox racked up four sacks! And his stats? You won’t believe the

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m. In those seven games, Cox rushed the passer 97 times. Among 130 eligible edge defenders, Pro Football Focus ranked him 12th in pass-rush win rate. But wait, it gets crazier. In PFF’s pass-rush productivity, which measures sacks, hits, and hurries per snap, Cox finished SECOND! He was right behind Aidan Hutchinson, and ahead of names like Myles Garrett (third!), Parsons (fourth!), Trey Hendrickson (fifth!), and Nick Bosa (sixth!). That's a "who's who" list of absolute beasts. As Cox put it during minicamp, "I definitely think I’m talented enough to pick up the slack and get to the quarterback." It's hard to argue with those numbers.

Can Cox Rebound and Cement His Role?

Unfortunately, Cox couldn't really build on that insane momentum. He suffered a groin injury in Week 1 last season, sidelining him until Week 16. He did start the Week 18 game against Minnesota, bagging one sack and four pressures. But for him, it’s not about disappointment. “Not really disappointing,” he said. “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 what's sure to be an epic season, this is a story that impacts everyone. While we're all fired up for Sam Darnold connecting with Jaxon Smith-Njigba, you gotta keep an eye on how the rest of the conference handles these kinds of setbacks. Can Brenton Cox truly be the guy to replace a player like Parsons? The numbers say he absolutely can. We'll be watching closely to see if he proves it wasn't a fluke as training camp rapidly approaches. The NFC’s pass rush landscape just got wild, and if Cox can stay healthy, opponents like our Hawks better be ready for him.

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