Javon Hargrave has plenty of juice left, but Jonathan Gannon knows he's not enough ... yet

The 33-year-old defensive tackle had his best season in 2022 under coach Jonathan Gannon, but his duplicative skillset with Devonte Wyatt means the Packers will have to find them another running mate.

When the Minnesota Vikings went on a defensive line spending spree last season, they signed Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave to reinvent their interior as penetrating, disruptive monsters. But they traded Harrison Phillips, and the run defense fell off a cliff because they asked Hargrave to be an early-down nose tackle, eat blocks, and not do what makes him so good.

Jonathan Gannon coached Hargrave in 2022, the best season of Hargrave’s career, which means he’s seen first-hand what makes Hargrave such a disruptive player. Hint: it’s not two-gapping to stop the run.

(Editor’s note: Calling on Phillips, whom the Jets traded a Day 3 pick swap to get, wouldn’t be a bad idea)

And Hargrave can still crank it up as a pass rusher. Over the last three seasons, he’s second in quick pressure rate among defensive tackles. Only Chris Jones created quick pressure more often. And last year alone, Hargrave finished with more quick pressures than Rashan Gary despite 100 fewer pass rush reps.

But he’s like Devonte Wyatt in that he’s a much better pass rusher than run defender. Neither is well-suited to play the nose, which is why the Packers had Karl Brooks and Colby Wooden playing way undersized at the position last year. It’s why they kept trying Nazir Stackhouse, despite not showing much evidence that he was ready to take on that role in the NFL.

Green Bay desperately needed someone, anyone, to fill that role.