Defensive end Kingsley Enagbare will be an unrestricted free agent in March unless the Green Bay Packers sign him to a new contract before then. The Packers will have some cap space to work with after GM Brian Gutekunst restructures some deals and likely releases some veterans who are not living up to their cap hits, but will it make sense to bring back Enagbare? Today we examine why the Packers should or should not re-sign Kingsley Enagbare this offseason.
Why the Packers Should Re-Sign DE Kingsley Enagbare
The Packers selected Enagbare in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. As an edge rusher, Enagbare has played both outside linebacker and defensive end depending on what defense the team was running. The former South Carolina star served as a rotational piece for the Green Bay defense. In four seasons, he’s started a total of 21 games, mostly filling in when the players ahead of him on the depth chart suffered injuries.
Enagbare remains a reliable player in the defensive end rotation. He played 42 percent of the Packers defensive snaps while playing in all 17 games in 2025, starting three. He recorded two sacks and a career-high nine quarterback hits. Enagbare made 39 total tackles, which tied his previous career high, including six tackles for loss.
Enagbare played in all 17 games in each of his four NFL seasons. That makes him one of the more durable players on the Green Bay roster. Pro Football Focus graded Enagbare as an above average run defender and an average pass rusher.
Why the Packers Should Not Re-Sign DE Kingsley Enagbare
Enagbare proved himself to be a reliable rotational player, but he hasn’t proven to be a difference maker. His pass rush skills are average at best, and he remains steady than anything else. While that type of player has value, they usually aren’t worth signing to second contracts. Even if the Packers part ways with Rashan Gary as expected, Lukas Van Ness would be ahead of Enagbare on the depth chart to replace him.
The Packers needed Enagbare to step up after Micah Parsons suffered his season-ending injury in December, but the pass rush became almost non-existent after the team lost Parsons.
The Packers also have younger players on rookie contracts already on the roster who can get the job done for them at a lower price. This past season, they drafted Collin Oliver and Barryn Sorrell. Both players showed flashes of ability in limited action. The Packers could also easily bring back restricted free agent, Brenton Cox, who has more pass rush ability than Enagbare and would likely cost less to sign.
We still don’t know what type of base defense new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon will be running and how Enagbare will fit into that system. If he is a good fit, his chances of returning are better. If he’s not, there’s little reason to bring him back.
The Packers could also easily add a defensive end via free agency, trade or the 2026 NFL Draft.
What Kingsley Enagbare Would Cost the Packers
Spotrac.com projects Enagbare’s market value at $5.9 million per season on a two-year deal. The Packers could have three or even four players on rookie contracts for that price.
Looking long term at the defensive end position, Van Ness is under contract for 2026. He will be entering the final year of his rookie contract unless the Packers pick up his fifth-year option or sign him to a long-term extension. Parsons also remains under contract although he may not be ready to start the season after suffering a torn ACL against the Broncos late last season.
Enagbare has proven to be a hard worker, a reliable player, and a good teammate. If he’s willing to return on a team-friendly contract, he could be back in 2026, but the odds are he would receive a better offer from another team and will be elsewhere next season.
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