A Closer Look at Green Bay Packers UDFA Edge Rusher Chauncey Manac

The Green Bay Packers had 14 UDFA signings following the 2022 NFL Draft, and we are currently working our way through each one of them, taking a closer look at what they can offer. Next up is edge rusher Chauncey Manac from Louisiana.

If you’ve missed any of the previous articles, you can find them below. And if you’re tuning in for the first time, what I have been covering in this series is the positional outlook, what you need to know about each UDFA’s college career, as well as what a pre-draft scouting report has to say about their game.

BJ Baylor

Danny Davis

Akial Byers

The current state of the Green Bay Packers edge rusher position

With Rashan Gary and Preston Smith leading the way, the outlook of the edge rusher position for the Green Bay Packers would appear to be in very good shape. Last season, Gary would finish third, according to PFF ($$), in pressures generated, while Smith would tie for 10th in that same category.

However, the depth of this group is a concern–just as it was in 2021. There is a reason that the Green Bay Packers felt the need to add Whitney Mercilus to the roster last season, as there was a lack of impact plays against both the run and the pass when Smith and Gary were on the sidelines.

OLB Coach Jason Rebrovich would like a rotation of four players, and who those third and fourth members of the rotation will be is currently up in the air. Competing for that playing time as well as any available roster spots will be Jonathan Garvin, Tipa Galeai, Kingsley Enagbare, Randy Ramsey, La’Darius Hamilton, Kobe Jones, and Manac–although just because there are openings on the roster, like any UDFA, Manac faces an uphill battle.

The name of the game in football is getting after the quarterback, which makes edge rusher one of the most important positions in the NFL. It’s also a heavily rotated position as well, with both Gary and Smith off the field for about one-third of the defensive snaps last season. For these two reasons, along with the uncertainty on the depth chart, if the Green Bay Packers do add a veteran free agent to this roster, I’m looking at edge rusher as the position they address.

What to know about Chauncey Manac’s college career

Manac began his college career at Georgia but transferred after one season. He was then on the field for 1,607 career defensive snaps with Louisiana during his four-year playing career.

As a pass-rusher during that span, Manac would total 98 pressures and 20 sacks; however, 2021 was by far his most productive. Manac recorded 33 pressures, 10 sacks, and 15 tackles for loss, according to PFF, which were all career highs for him.

Manac was also stout against the run, ranking 24th among edge rushers in PFF’s run defense grade while his 34 stops were the 19th most last season–although one area in particular that he will have to improve upon is his tackling, with a career missed tackle rate of nearly 19%.

Only 168 of Manac’s career snaps came lined up inside–so he primarily stayed in that traditional edge rusher alignment. He was also on the field for just 117 total special teams snaps, most of which came on the field goal block team. This is an area he will have to contribute to at the NFL level.

Manac is a bit smaller, measuring in at just under 6’3″ and weighing 246 pounds. He posted an impressive 40-yard dash time of 4.67-seconds, however, his overall RAS was just 3.36 after struggling in the agility and explosive drills.

What the pre-draft scouting report says

NFL Draft Bible

"“Chauncey Manac has put together a solid four years as a starter at Louisiana and has earned himself a senior bowl invite,” wrote the NFL Draft Bible. “Has a good ability to play against the run consistently and work against blocks. Projects well as a run defender in the league, but his ceiling is capped as a pass rusher. As an older prospect, Manac looks to be a day three pick that could provide depth at the next level.”"