The NFL has begun unfurling its top 100 players in the league, and a Green Bay Packers player checks in at No. 80.
That’s pass rusher Rashan Gary, the first — but likely not the last — Packer to make the NFL.com’s annual ranking.
The slow-and-steady rollout began in late June with the No. 91-100 picks and will continue through the exhibition portion of the season; the top 10 players are announced Sept. 1. The list is compiled based on votes of NFL players.
Gary played in 17 games last year and finished with nine tackles for loss, 7½ sacks, a forced fumble and 47 tackles overall. It was arguably a down year, but it was the first time he started every game and he made the Pro Bowl for the first time.
Gary will turn 28 years old in December and will be the midst of his seventh season with Green Bay and second under defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley.
He’s the first Packers player on the top 100, though University of Wisconsin alumnus Andrew Van Ginkel, who was named second-team All-Pro last season in a breakout season with the Vikings, made the list at No. 88. His teammate, former Packers running back Aaron Jones, made the list at No. 98 after rushing for 1,138 yards last year, the highest mark in his career.
Jones last made the list in 2023 at No. 64. He placed as high as No. 30 in 2021.
Gary ranked No. 50 on the 2024 list, his first time in the top-100 rankings. The only other Packers player on the 2024 list included Jordan Love (No. 34), though it’s fair to assume Xavier McKinney will also make an appearance in 2025, at the very least.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Green Bay Packers defender lands at No. 80 on NFL’s annual list of top 100 players
Reporting by JR Radcliffe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
