Packers Draft Michigan's Rashan Gary No. 12 Despite Shoulder Injury Concerns

The Green Bay Packers have a new potential star on the defensive line after they selected Michigan's Rashan Gary No. 12 overall—their first of two Round 1 picks.

There were a lot of questions about Gary leading up to the draft, with NFL Network's Ian Rapoport spotlighting a labrum issue in his shoulder:

When Gary is playing up to his potential, he looks like an imposing force:

Gary, 21, registered 119 tackles (23 for loss), 9.5 sacks and a forced fumble in his three seasons in Ann Arbor. He was consistently a disruptive force and was expected to be selected in the first round's top half.

Bleacher Report's Matt Miller noted in February that Gary's "untapped potential and athleticism," along with the fact that Gary is "scheme/positionally versatile" made him a more intriguing prospect than another player expected to go early, Ed Oliver.

Rashan Gary NFL Draft 2019: Scouting Report, Grade for Packers Rookie

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"Gary, to me, is a little bit more athlete than football player at this point in time," NFL.com draft insider Daniel Jeremiah added (h/t Nick Baumgardner of the Detroit Free Press). "He's a rare, rare combination of size and speed, and he's explosive. But the production doesn't necessarily match the skill set."

He continued: "There's tremendous upside for him. From a skill set standpoint, I think the ceiling for him is like a Cam Jordan. Could be one of the better defensive ends in the NFL. ... I like him better on the edge."

But Jeremiah also noted the 6'4", 277-pound Gary brings "a lot of disruption, not a lot of production," which is the central issue he'll need to address.

There's no questioning that he has the natural ability to become a dominant player. But whether he improves on the more technical parts of his game remains to be seen. 

Green Bay is banking on the idea that Gary can make those adjustments and develop into a force on the defensive line.

The Packers have invested a lot of money in their defense this offseason. They signed pass-rushers Za'Darius Smith and Preston Smith, along with safety Adrian Amos. 

Gary will join that group as the Packers look to get back into playoff contention after posting back-to-back losing seasons for the first time since 1990-91.