A combination of a scheme change, tough work, special teams skills and preseason results allowed Green Bay Packers defensive quarterback Aaron Mosby to go from unlikely prospect to a 53-man roster for the start of the 2024 season.
General manager Brian Gutekunst said Mosby — who was claimed last August and played inside and outside linebacker for the Packers last season — has worked tough to play defensive end in the up-to-date 4-3 defense, and it has all paid off this summer.
“I’m really proud of how he’s developed,” Gutekunst said. “When we got him, he was kind of a tweener, is he an inside or outside in our old scheme? When we got into that 4-3, we gave him a hand and he really took off. You have to give him a lot of credit, he put in a lot of work.”
Mosby has been a flashy performer almost every day in training camp and has been productive in all three preseason games. He had a quarterback hit and deflected a pass on fourth down in the first game, made a couple of hurries in Denver, and then really exploded in the final game, racking up a strip sack and an interception. Mosby was rated the third-best defensive player by Pro Football Focus.
He also played in four different special teams: kick return, punt return, punt coverage and field goal block.
“Really, not just as an edge rusher and his ability to attack the quarterback and do everything we ask him to do on the defensive line, but also on special teams, his ability to play multiple positions and play them well,” Gutekunst said. “And then he was productive. He did a really good job. He got better every week. It showed in practice, it showed in games. I’m excited about what he’s been able to do this camp.”
Mosby spent the entire 2023 season on the Packers practice squad. A year later, he’s on the 53rd roster.
The Packers ultimately retained six defensive tackles. Mosby’s ability to play on special teams will be key, considering he is behind Preston Smith, Rashan Gary, Lukas Van Ness and Kingsley Enagbare at edge rusher and is unlikely to see the field on defense unless injuries occur among the top four.
“I try my best to impact special teams play, that’s the biggest thing that builds a team,” Mosby said.
Just 25 years aged, Mosby said he dropped some weight — almost 10 pounds — and gained speed in the offseason, which helped him transition to the 4-3. He went from being a high school quarterback to playing defensive back and linebacker in college and is now a defensive quarterback in the NFL.
Hear more from Mosby, who smiled at his locker the entire time Wednesday, below:
