2019 NFL Draft: Predicting sack totals for first-round rookie edge rushers

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Rashan Gary, Green Bay Packers: 12th pick of 2019 NFL Draft

There were few players that had more of a mixed range of opinions during the draft process than Rashan Gary. While some believe he has the athleticism and potential to be an immediate impact guy at the next level, many believe that he is more of a project and worry about his lack of production in college.

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While time will tell where on that spectrum he lands, Gary will have a chance to contribute right away in the Packers 3-4 system. He is joining a new-look unit that includes free-agent signees Preston Smith and Za’Darius Smith, so he should have some opportunities to clean up some plays that funnel his way this season.

I wouldn’t expect Gary to rack up the sack numbers but I think he will be a valuable cog in that front seven in year one.

Sack Prediction: 4

Brian Burns, Carolina Panthers: 16th pick of 2019 NFL Draft

The Carolina Panthers finished 26th in the NFL with a mere 36 sacks in 2018, so it was no surprise to see them take Brian Burns with the 16th overall pick of this year’s draft.

Burns will fill the vacant role left by now-retired legend Julius Peppers. The rookie edge rusher should immediately provide them with speed and explosiveness off the edge that they have not had in a while.

At the 2019 NFL scouting combine, Burns clocked the third-best time for a pass rusher in the 40-yard dash with an official 4.53. This is made even more impressive by the fact that Burns displayed that speed after having weighed in at a solid 249 in Indy, after playing closer to the 230 range during his time at FSU.

Burns has all the length and athleticism you could want on the end and has shown an impressive repertoire of moves that should help him immediately provide a spark on that Panthers defense.

Prediction: 8.5

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