The Green Bay Packers’ core defensive linemen are under contract for 2025, but the pass rush needs immediate help after finishing 26th in pass-rush win rate last season. Chase Young, Josh Sweat, and Azeez Ojulari are potential targets, but the Packers appear to have a strong interest in one pass rusher in particular: Dayo Odeyingbo.
According to AtoZ Sports, the Packers have Odeyingbo as a top target in free agency. The 25-year-old has played in 61 games with 19 starts, totaling 106 combined tackles, 21 tackles for loss, 16.5 sacks, and five forced fumbles. In 2024, he recorded 42 pressures – just five fewer than Rashan Gary, who led the Packers.
“You’re always looking. With pass rushers, you can never have enough,” Brian Gutekunst said after the season. “(Jeff) Hafley did a great job marrying what we had together to make a top 5, top 10 defense for sure. The strides we took during the season were really impressive, the jumps, and I’m excited to see what Jeff can do in Year 2.”
Green Bay’s pursuit of Odeyingbo mirrors their approach to Za’Darius Smith in 2019 free agency. Like Odeyingbo, Smith wasn’t a full-time starter early in his career but displayed plenty of potential. Both are athletic pass rushers, and the Packers appear to be targeting Odeyingbo, 25, just as he’s hitting his prime.
On the other hand, Smith was far more productive in 2018, the year before he signed with Green Bay, than Odeyingbo was in 2024. Smith recorded 61 pressures on 485 pass rush snaps, posting a 12.5% pressure rate and ranking among the top 20 players in pressures. In contrast, Odeyingbo had 42 pressures on 439 pass rush snaps last season, with a 9.5% pressure rate.
Kingsley Enagbare posted an 8.5% pressure rate last year. While Odeyingbo has been a full-time starter for just one season, he is a better pass rusher over a shorter margin and could command anywhere from $16 to $20 million per year. Therefore, it would make more sense for the Packers to target more established pass rushers like Chase Young or Josh Sweat. However, they are likely betting that Jeff Hafley can maximize Odeyingbo’s potential and get the most out of his prime.
Brian Gutekunst understands that the Packers need to ramp up their championship pursuit, and relying on a player like Odeyingbo to develop into a game-wrecker isn’t the ideal path. The team needs ready-made star talent. While Odeyingbo could become a solid pass rusher in Green Bay, he’s not a star yet. In a pivotal year like 2025, it’s not the time to gamble on player development – it’s the season to acquire proven talent that can make an immediate impact.
It’s great that the Packers are looking to strengthen their pass rush. However, bringing in Odeyingbo alone doesn’t raise their pass-rush ceiling. If they believe he’s an excellent fit for the system, that’s fine, but they should still explore other options to ensure they add true difference-makers to the unit.
