Brenton Cox Outplayed Myles Garrett and Micah Parsons in PFF Productivity, And The Packers' Whole Season Hinges On It

Alright, football fans, buckle up because there's a wild story brewing in the NFC, and if you haven't heard it yet, you're about to. We're talking about the Green Bay Packers, and with Micah Parsons, one of the league's absolute beasts, expected to be out until October, the question on everyone's mind is simple: Who the heck is gonna get after the quarterback for them? It's a huge problem, and it's got massive implications for how the NFC shakes out, even for us 12s watching from Lumen Field.

The Sack Attack Disappears Overnight

Let's break down the sheer scale of the problem. Last season, the Packers grabbed 36 sacks. A pretty solid number, right? Well, here’s the gut punch: a staggering 24.5 of those sacks are now GONE. Poof! Parsons alone accounted for 12.5 of them. When you crunch the numbers, that leaves them with a measly 11.5 sacks returning from the entire squad. Devonte Wyatt picked up four, and the rest of their edge rushers combined for another four. Seriously? That’s it? There’s been a lot of chatter, a full-on hype train, for Lukas Van Ness, but even he only managed a career high of four sacks in 17 games as a rookie. You can't just lose over two-thirds of your pass rush and expect to contend. This is where things get interesting for a guy who might just be their secret weapon.

Cox Blew Up The Numbers When Nobody Was Watching

Remember the 2024 trade of Preston Smith? Everyone thought it was to clear a path for Van Ness. Turns out, the real beneficiary was a guy named Brenton Cox. This dude was inactive for the first nine games of that season, but once he hit the field, he went OFF. In just seven games, Cox bagged four sacks.

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And get this: in those seven games, rushing the passer 97 times, Pro Football Focus ranked him 12th in pass-rush win rate among 130 eligible edge defenders. But that's not even the wildest stat. In PFF’s pass-rush productivity metric, which measures sacks, hits, and hurries per snap, Cox finished SECOND in the entire league! SECOND! He was ahead of names like Myles Garrett, Micah Parsons himself, Trey Hendrickson, and Nick Bosa. Aidan Hutchinson was the only one ahead of him. That's a "who’s who" list of elite talent. Cox knows what’s up, saying in minicamp, "A lot of the guys have had to pick up the slack since Micah has been out. I definitely think I’m talented enough to pick up the slack and get to the quarterback." You hear that? That's the kind of confidence a team needs when facing down an October without their superstar.

Can He Do It Again?

Now, the bad news. Cox couldn't build on that insane momentum because he suffered a groin injury in Week 1 the following season, not returning until Week 16. Talk about a brutal setback! He did start Week 18 against Minnesota, picking up one sack and four pressures. But that brief glimpse of his potential makes you wonder what if. Cox ain't backing down, though. He says, "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." He wants to prove it wasn't a fluke. The Packers are gonna need him to prove it, big time. With training camp just around the corner, Cox's ability to stay healthy and recapture that elite form isn't just important, it might be the difference between their season being a total washout or them actually hanging around in a tough NFC. We'll be watching!

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