Final Grades for the 2025 Green Bay Packers Defensive Ends: Missing Micah

This is the next in a series of articles providing an in-depth analysis of each position group on the Green Bay Packers for 2025. Today we will analyze the defensive ends. The grades will be for each unit as a whole, but we will give an analysis of each player, their strengths and weaknesses and where they stand heading into the offseason. Here are the grades for the Packers defensive ends in 2025. The marks are based on a combination of expectations and performance. The average grade is a C+.

The Packers defense ranked 21^st in the league with 36 sacks for the season.

You can see our final grade for the quarterbacks here, for the defensive tackles here, the running backs here, the linebackers here and tight ends here.

Final Grades for the 2025 Packers Defensive Ends: The Starters

The Packers acquired Micah Parsons from the Cowboys just before the start of the regular season. Parsons became a true difference maker for the defense. His addition changed the way Jeff Hafley called the defense and allowed the Packers to rush the quarterback using only the front four nearly all of the time.

Parsons finished the season with 12.5 sacks in 14 games before he was injured for the rest of the season with a torn ACL. The Packers failed to win a game after he was hurt. He made it easier for the secondary to cover receivers and also did a good job of stopping running plays that were run to the opposite side of the field.

His non-stop motor lifted the entire defensive unit, and the team was unable to overcome his loss.

Most experts expected Rashan Gary to benefit from the addition of Parsons. At first, he did. Gary recorded 7.5 sacks in the first seven games of the season and did a good job of playing the run. Unfortunately, he failed to record a sack or a tackle for loss in the final 10 games of the season. His playing time was reduced, and he became a non-factor.

The Packers needed Gary to step up after Parsons was injured and he failed to do so. His future in Green Bay remains uncertain as he has a very high cap hit that far exceeds his production on the field.

Primary Backups

Kingsley Enagbare played all 17 games for the Packers and started three. He spent most of the season as the team’s top backup at defensive end. He recorded two sacks and 39 total tackles including six tackles for loss. He also recorded nine quarterback hits. Enagbare played 42 percent of the defensive snaps.

Enagbare gives the team reliable depth at the position. However, he will be an unrestricted free agent in March and his future in Green Bay remains a question.

Lukas Van Ness played just nine games this year, missing the middle of the season with injuries. He recorded 1.5 sacks and seven quarterback hits in limited action. The former Iowa star made 19 total tackles including seven tackles for loss. He played 45 percent of the defensive snaps in the games he appeared in.

Van Ness received good marks from Pro Football Focus, especially later in the season. He has yet to establish himself as a reliable starter, but he has shown flashes of the ability that made him a first-round pick. His technique has improved and he will get a chance to start next season especially if Gary isn’t back.

Final Grades for the 2025 Packers Defensive Ends: Depth

Brenton Cox saw his season shortened by injuries for the second consecutive season. He appeared in four games this season, starting one. Cox recorded one sack and three quarterback hits while making five total tackles. He was on the field for 29 percent of the defensive snaps in the games he played.

Cox will be a restricted free agent this offseason. He has shown promise in limited action, but the Packers have depth at this position so his future in Green Bay remains uncertain.

Arron Mosby played 12 games for the Packers but only played 17 snaps on defense. He was a key part of the special teams units. Mosby recorded eight total tackles. His contract expires this offseason, and the Packers have to decide whether to bring him back on another deal at or near the league minimum.

Rookie Barryn Sorrell appeared in 14 games and started in the season finale against the Vikings. He recorded 1.5 sacks and three quarterback hits while recovering one fumble. He played 20 percent of the defensive snaps.

Sorrell graded out better against the run than he did at pressuring the quarterback. The Packers expect him to take on a bigger role in 2026.

Collin Oliver only played one game after missing the rest of the season due to injury. He recorded one tackle for loss and two quarterback hits in 31 defensive snaps. He showed promise in a very small sample size. Oliver will get a chance to do more in 2026.

Final Grade:

The addition of Parsons was a game changer for the Packers defense, and he earned an A-plus grade individually. The rest of the crew cooled off after a fast start.

The pass rush faded after offenses adjusted their blocking schemes and game plans to release the ball quickly. The run defense struggled after defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt was injured.

With Parsons hoping to return by the start of the regular season and a jump from some of the younger players, the potential for an even better season lies ahead.

FINAL GRADE: B