The Green Bay Packers front four struggled to get pressure on opposing passers in 2024. No player on the team recorded more than 7.5 sacks all season. As a result, defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley had to resort to blitzes and stunts far more often than he intended to at the beginning of the season. The Green Bay Packers were so disappointed in the failure of their front four to consistently pressure opposing quarterbacks that they fired defensive line coach Jason Rebrovich. But do the Packers have a solution to the struggles of their front four on the roster? Could Brenton Cox become a force rushing the passer in 2025?

Cox joined the Packers as an undrafted free agent prior to the 2023 season. Scouts originally regarded Cox as an early round talent, but off the field issues caused him to go undrafted.

The scouting report on Cox coming out of college recognized his talent. Bleacher Report described him this way. “Brenton Cox Jr. is a physically imposing edge defender who can set the edge as a run defender and win with power as a pass rusher. His strength at the point of attack is impressive and helps him put offensive tackles on their heels. However, his athleticism is primarily linear as his lateral movement skills leave something to be desired.”

The Packers were willing to take a chance on the former Georgia and Florida star and he earned a roster spot after a strong training camp.

Cox rarely saw the field as a rookie. He was usually inactive and appeared in just four games in 2023. He played just four snaps on defense and nine on special teams.

That didn’t change early in 2024. In the first half of the season, Cox did not appear in a single game. He was on the 53-man roster but continued to be inactive on game days. That changed at the trade deadline when the Packers dealt veteran starter Preston Smith to the Pittsburgh Steelers because he was not comfortable playing in Jeff Hafley’s four-man front after playing in a 3-4 defense for all of his career. That gave Cox an opportunity to finally get some playing time.

Cox was able to take advantage of the chance he was given. He played seven games in the second half of the season and recorded four sacks, made five tackles for loss, and forced a fumble.

Hafley was pleased with what he saw from Cox during the second half of the season. “It doesn’t surprise me what he’s doing right now,” Hafley told reporters late in the season. “The beautiful thing is he’s getting better, though, because he’s getting game reps. The jump he’s made from his first game until now that he’s actually played, we keep playing him more and more and he keeps showing up. He knows what he’s doing, he’s confident in what he’s doing, and he’s playing really fast and he’s a very talented player, and I love the way he practices every day.”

Cox played 35 percent of the team’s defensive snaps in those seven games. That was more defensive snaps than former first round pick, Lukas Van Ness.

Cox was pleased with his progress late in the season, but he also knows he still needs to work to improve his overall game if he wants to carve out a bigger role next season.

“I definitely be working this offseason to improve my play in the defense,” Cox told reporters after the season ended. “Getting more into that attacking style that coach Hafley likes and just improving my all-around game. Get stronger, faster, and more in tune with my pass rush so I can help the team more and make those plays that we need in games like that.”

Cox has the talent to earn a starting job at defensive end. He should get the chance to carve out a bigger role in 2025 and beyond with a strong training camp and preseason. He has worked hard to earn this opportunity. Now, he needs to take advantage of it.