The Packers Must Find A Way To Bring Kingsley Enagbare Back

There was perhaps no bigger play before Keisean Nixon's interception on Sunday, given the moment, than the one that directly preceded it.

On a third-and-one with the Green Bay Packers up a touchdown and the clock ticking with under a minute to go, Kingsley Enagbare stuffed Chicago Bears running back Kyle Monangai, forcing the fourth down.

He may not be the flashiest or the most consistent at pass rushing, but Enagbare has made an impact. The Packers need to find a way to keep him around beyond this year.

Enagbare is one of many regular contributors for the Packers on an expiring deal. It's a list that includes names like Romeo Doubs, Quay Walker, Rasheed Walker, and Sean Rhyan. All were part of Brian Gutekunst's impressive 2022 draft class.

It's a class that also included Christian Watson, Devonte Wyatt, and Zach Tom. The Packers gave Watson and Tom extensions earlier in the year, and scooped up Wyatt's fifth-year option. The others are on an island, and their futures in Green Bay remain unknown.

Enagbare gets lumped into that group. While Walker and Doubs may be viewed as more essential to the operation, there's a money issue at play.

After trading for Micah Parsons and putting his contract up with what quarterback Jordan Love is making, Green Bay undoubtedly will have plenty of difficult decisions to make during the offseason, and for the years to come.

Focusing on Green Bay's edge rusher spot, Rashan Gary counts $25 million against the cap this year and $28 million next year. Following a red-hot start to the season, Gary has cooled and hasn't registered a sack since Week 8 against the Pittsburgh Steelers in late October.

A big part of the domino effect in trading for Parsons was the premise that he would free Gary in one-on-one looks and should feast. Gary racked up 7.5 sacks in the first seven games but has been skunked in that department ever since. Gary had 13 quarterback hits in the first seven weeks and just three in the last six games. On top of that, his snap count totals have been starting to split with Enagbare.

In the first six games of the campaign, Gary averaged 44 snaps per game on defense, or 64% of the total on defense. For Enagbare, those numbers sat at 19 snaps per game on average, which was just 28% of the total.

The last few weeks have painted a much different picture.

Gary has played 38 snaps on average in the last five games for Green Bay. It's still 62% of all snaps by the defense, but Enagbare has been right next to him. The former South Carolina product has played 31 snaps per game during that span, or 48% of the snaps.

While Gary remains the superior pass rusher, Enagbare ranks in the 94th percentile in stop rate and 98th percentile in tackles per snap. That couldn't have been more evident than the individual play he made on Monangai in a huge spot against the Bears.

In an ideal world, Green Bay would be able to keep everyone around, but that's just not realistic with two top-heavy deals on the books for Parsons and Love. The Packers won't want to trade Gary in the offseason, but money will play a factor. Is the juice worth the squeeze at $28 million next year for Gary? Or would trading him and inking Enagbare, who's been productive in his role, to a lesser deal for someone who's three years younger than Gary be the better route to take?

Green Bay will have to juggle all of that, and other teams with deeper pockets that may make larger offers to Enagbare. If there's a bidding war, the Packers won't have the means to keep up in many of those races.

Enagabre has given the Packers the kind of production that makes one ponder what it could be like in a more full-time role. Of course, with Parsons in Green Bay and Lukas Van Ness not going anywhere anytime soon, that would be tough to carve out even if Gary is somewhere else in 2026. Enagbare has done his part in putting together a résumé that warrants the Packers seriously considering an extension if the dollars make sense.

Expecting all of Doubs, both Walkers, Rhyan, and Enagbare to be back in Green Bay in 2026 is foolish. It isn't going to happen.

Gutekunst talked all offseason about wanting to get something done with Quay Walker. That will certainly still be in play. The Packers have to figure out what they have in 2024 first-round pick Jordan Morgan, and left tackle could be his gig to lose next year if Rasheed Walker signs elsewhere. The wide receiver room is crowded, but Doubs has been such a constant presence for Love and in LaFleur's scheme. Rhyan has blossomed since taking over at center for the injured Elgton Jenkins.

Then there's Enagbare, who has taken his opportunities when presented this year and run with them. He'd be a cheaper option than Gary for the long haul, and more importantly, it'd be an option that has proven productive. There are many reasons it makes sense for the Packers to keep Enagbare around on a new deal.