Brenton Cox Jr. has been a model citizen for more than three years in Green Bay. Now he has a rare — but brief — opportunity to let his talent shine.
Any discussion about Cox should begin with that first point; since arriving in Green Bay as an undrafted free agent in 2023, he’s been exactly what any coach could hope for. He’s handled his work well, performed when called upon, and hasn’t made so much as a peep off the field. And that’s significant because of the circumstances under which he made his way
to the Packers.
Cox was certainly a draftable talent. He’d performed well at both Georgia and Florida, and has enviable (if not elite) physical tools. But he wasn’t drafted, and the only reason he spent time at both Georgia and Florida was because he was asked to leave first one program and, ultimately, the other.
“He wears you down with his antics,” according to an anonymous scout who gave their appraisal to The Athletic’s Dane Brugler prior to the 2023 NFL Draft. Cox was Brugler’s 39th ranked edge rusher in that year’s edition of The Beast — again, certainly good enough to be drafted — but his name was never called, and those “antics” were likely the reason why. It wasn’t any one big thing, though a misdemeanor arrest for marijuana possession in April 2019 probably sped his departure from Georgia along. But an “accumulation” of issues (to quote Florida head coach Billy Napier) ended up bringing Cox’s time as a collegian to an end earlier than expected, turning him loose to ply his trade at the NFL level.
And that’s exactly what he’s done. A solid pass rush prospect coming out of his time in college, Cox has shown some significant pass rush juice in his limited opportunities with the Packers.
But now opportunity knocks, and it’s a high-stakes chance for Cox to make his mark. Micah Parsons is on the shelf for the first month or so of the 2026 season, and there’s no reason Cox can’t be one of the players who leads the charge in his absence.
I’d push back on any analysis that says the Packers lack options on the edge. Lukas Van Ness was a first round pick for a reason, Barryn Sorrell has a solid scouting profile and was good enough as a rookie in 2025, Dani Dennis-Sutton was a steal in the fourth round, Collin Oliver is a traits-y, toolsy hybrid player, and Cox is no slouch in his own right. But it’s fair to say none of them has distinguished himself to this point. There are snaps available for the taking, and the first player to step up and grab himself a role might hang onto it well beyond when Parsons returns. Cox has a chance to make a real impact, which could pay significant dividends as he heads toward free agency next spring.
But Cox’s window will close quickly. Parsons won’t be out forever, and he’ll eat up a ton of snaps when he returns. And with Cox on a short-term contract, he’s vulnerable. With players like Sorrell, Dennis-Sutton, and Oliver under contract into 2028 and beyond, the Packers don’t have much incentive to drop developmental resources into Cox; while players on their rookie contracts are cost-locked, he’s only going to get more expensive if he performs at a high level.
Still, the opportunity is there. Cox has a chance to make a real difference for the Packers this season, making himself a lot of money in the process. The extent to which he can do that might secure his future as well as helping the Packers in the present.
