Packers 2023 UDFA Profile: Edge Rusher Brenton Cox

After going player by player and taking a closer look at each of the Green Bay Packers 13 draft picks, I will now be moving on to each of their 11 undrafted rookie signings.

In this series, I will examine the positional outlook for each player’s respective position group, and highlighting the stats you need to know from their college careers. I’ll also be taking a closer look at their measurements when applicable and then including a pre-draft scouting report for an additional perspective.

Up first in this series is the most notable UDFA signing made by the Packers, Florida edge rusher Brenton Cox.

Current state of edge rusher position

On the roster: Preston Smith, Rashan Gary, JJ Enagbare, Lukas Van Ness, Justin Hollins, Brenton Cox, Keshawn Banks, Jonathan Garvin, and La’Darius Hamilton

Preston Smith, Rashan Gary, Lukas Van Ness, and JJ Enagbare are roster locks. Justin Hollins will be the favorite for the fifth roster spot, but he’s playing on an inexpensive one-year deal, so if the Packers decide to go younger with that final roster spot, they have the ability to. Realistically there is anywhere from one to two roster spots open, depending on whether or not Rashan Gary is placed on the PUP list to begin the season. If Gary is available for week one, as alluded to, then at best, there is one spot open. If he starts on PUP, then there’s one to two, again depending on how the Packers view Hollins.

Without Gary last season, this is a unit that struggled to generate regular pressure on the quarterback. As a whole, they also do all that well against the run either, by not setting the edge consistently. The addition of Hollins mid-season was helpful, and hopefully, Enagbare makes a jump in Year 2, while Van Ness should make an immediate impact. The depth of this position group seems to be in better shape than what it was at this time a year ago.

Stats to know

Cox was a five-star recruit out of high school and began his college career at Georgia before being dismissed by the program. He then spent the 2020, 2021, and a portion of the 2022 seasons at Florida before he was dismissed by the program.

"“He was highly recruited,” said Packers pass rush coordinator Jason Rebrovich on Wednesday. “There’s a lot of guys that have trials and tribulations in college. The best thing I saw about him was how he is as a player. When I got a phone list through this process and I called the young man, I said ‘hey man, I don’t want nothing to know about football. I want to know who I’m going to get on a daily basis. Am I going to get this knucklehead that’s gone through this stuff? Or am I going to get a guy that wants to be a pro and have the opportunity to become a star in this league?’ Because he has a lot of talent. He needs to be pushed and a lot of guys need that. They need that kick in the rear end.”"

On the field, Cox lined up primarily in a traditional edge rusher role and was highly productive as both a pass rusher and run defender. He recorded 74 pressures and 10 sacks between the 2020 and 2021 seasons. For what it’s worth, he was also one of PFF’s highest-graded edge rushers against the run during those two years as well. Before leaving the team in 2022, Cox had 21 pressures and two sacks in eight games. He played a career high 53 special teams snaps in 2021.

"“The thing about Cox in the few short days we’ve had him, he has shown that,” said Rebrovich. “It just has to be consistent and has to grow with that consistency and hopefully there’s no lulls in there. Sometimes that happens but if we can dig him out of that and keep climbing that mountain he might have an opportunity to be a pretty good player.”"

Measurements

6’4” | 250 | RAS: 6.57

Cox was a combine invitee. His Relative Athletic Score is below the typical 8.0 threshold that the Packers have stuck to, although Enagbare didn’t meet that metric either, and it’s important to keep in mind that in the undrafted rookie market, it’s not as if there are going to be many top athletes available. Instead teams are looking for players with a trait or two that could give them a chance at the next level. With Cox, that was his pedigree and college production. Cox has the bigger frame that the Packers often covet at edge rusher and ran a 4.85-second 40, posted a 33” vertical, along with a 9’07” broad jump.

Pre-draft scouting report

"“Former five-star recruit whose dismissals from both Georgia and Florida could hurt his draft stock. On the field, Cox is a linear attacker with heavy hands and the ability to effectively stack and shed blocks. While he has some bend-and-dip athleticism as a rusher, he’s primarily a brute-force attacker currently lacking the game plan or counters to beat offensive tackles possessing a quality anchor. He needs more technique work across the board but has the traits to create advantages for himself on the field. He has the potential to slot in as a rotational 3-4 outside ‘backer, but he needs to convince teams the issues that led to his dismissals from Georgia and Florida won’t resurface in the NFL.” – Lance Zierlein, NFL.com"