Packers Assistant Mike Smith Provides Early Glowing Reviews of Rookie Rashan Gary

After being picked 12th overall in this year's NFL draft, Packers edge rusher Rashan Gary is already impressing his new coaches. New Packers OLB coach Mike Smith gave Gary rave reviews, comparing him to two superstar pass-rushers he coached last season for the Chiefs.

New Packers OLB coach Mike Smith just compared Rashan Gary to a combination of Dee Ford and Justin Houston, the two guys he coached in KC last year.
— Zach Kruse (@zachkruse2) May 22, 2019

Gary was a 5-star recruit coming out of Paramus Catholic High School in 2015, and he maintained those traits during his time at Michigan. He logged 23.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks for Big Blue during his three-year college career, but Coach Smith feels the numbers don't even tell the whole story.

Packers new OLB coach Mike Smith said he thought first-round pick Rashan Gary was "the best in college football at outside linebacker. That's the way I evaluated him." After speaking with him at the combine, Smith said he knew right then that Gary... https://t.co/H8aXf7VCI3
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) May 22, 2019

The Packers will be looking for big production out of Gary early in his career as such a high draft pick. It should help that they signed pass-rushers Za'darius and Preston Smith, as they will take some pressure off the rookie, and he won't be forced to shoulder the entire load of pass-rushing production.

Rashan Gary -- one of the more polarizing prospects in the 2019 NFL draft

He's a rare athletic specimen with great upside

(And does he have the biggest feet in this draft class??)https://t.co/TggzO4bYFq
— Eric Edholm (@Eric_Edholm) April 9, 2019

Gary is a raw talent, but he is a freak athlete who brings unusual explosiveness for a man of his size at 6-4 and 277 pounds. This gives great versatility to his game, as he will be able to fit in a variety of defensive sets as either a linebacker or defensive end.

Smith's comments are evidence that he trusts Gary to develop into a star in Green Bay. Now, it's up to Gary to prove him right.