"Countdown to camp" is a position-by-position overview of the Packers' roster heading into training camp. The series continues with the defensive line.

GREEN BAY – Two of the deepest positions on the Packers' roster converged into one this offseason with the edge rushers and interior defensive line coming together under one roof as part of the transition to new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley.

In switching to a 4-3 front, Hafley and defensive line coach Jason Rebrovich are looking to unleash the 17 players now categorized as defensive linemen in hope of generating the necessary pressure to power Green Bay's new-look defense.

Working in the Packers' favor is the fact they return virtually everyone from both positions, with Preston Smith and Rashan Gary leading the edge rush and three-time Pro Bowler Kenny Clark guiding the interior defensive line. Together, the three veterans had discussions about bringing the defensive line together for workouts prior to the start of training camp next week.

This will be the sixth season Smith and Gary have played together, as Smith was signed one month prior to Green Bay drafting Gary 12th overall in 2019.

While Smith's 31 years make him the oldest player on the Packers' roster, the 6-foot-5, 265-pound defensive end has shown no signs of slowing down. Having missed just one game during his first nine seasons, Smith enters the 2024 season tied with Ezra Johnson for the Packers' sixth-most sacks (41½) since sacks became an official statistic in 1982.

Last season, Gary bounced back from the torn anterior cruciate ligament that ended his 2022 campaign to lead Green Bay in both sacks (nine) and quarterback hits (22). Since becoming a full-fledged starter in 2021, the 26-year-old pass rusher has registered 71 tackles, 62 QB hits and 24½ sacks in 42 games.

The Packers have ample depth behind their veteran stalwarts, with 2023 first-round pick Lukas Van Ness, Kingsley Enagbare and Brenton Cox Jr. rounding out the edge-rush rotation.

Van Ness, who just turned 23 last month, turned a corner during the final stretch of the 2023 season. Rushing more with his hand in the dirt, the 6-foot-5, 272-pound pass rusher tallied 19 tackles, seven quarterback hits and four sacks over his final eight games (including playoffs).

Van Ness broke the tip of his thumb during the offseason program but is expected to be fine after finishing minicamp with a modified protective club. Fellow rookie Cox played sparingly after making the initial 53-man roster as a college free agent, but Green Bay is high on the former five-star college recruit's long-term potential.

The Packers breathed a huge sigh of relief this spring when it turned out Enagbare avoided a significant knee injury during Green Bay's upset of top-seeded Dallas in the NFC Wild Card playoffs. A full participant during the offseason program, Enagbare looks to build on 68 tackles and five sacks from his first two NFL seasons.

The Packers are as deep on the interior defensive line as they are on the edge, with Clark leading the way. Still only 28, Clark is the longest-tenured player on the Packers' roster but coming off the best statistical season of his eight-year career after recording 7½ sacks and 16 quarterback hits.

Clark is entering the final year of the contract extension he signed with Green Bay in August 2020. While the Packers don't have another vested veteran on the interior defensive line, they have steadily been building around Clark the past three seasons with T.J. Slaton(2021, fifth round), Devonte Wyatt (2022, first), Colby Wooden (2023, fourth) and Karl Brooks (2023, sixth).

Slaton and Wyatt both graduated to starting roles in 2023 and parlayed the increased playing time into career seasons. The 6-foot-4, 330-pound Slaton led the defensive line with a career-high 50 tackles while Wyatt racked up 36 tackles, 11 QB hits and 5½ sacks, a significant jump from his 15 tackles and 1½ sacks as a rookie.

Despite being a late-round selection, Brooks made an immediate impact as a rookie. The 6-foot-3, 296-pound defensive lineman registered 20 tackles, four sacks, four passes defensed and two fumble recoveries on just 380 snaps.

In doing so, Brooks became the first Green Bay rookie to register four-plus sacks and multiple fumble recoveries in a season since linebacker Clay Matthews in 2009. Brooks also blocked a field goal on special teams.

Wooden finished his first NFL season with 17 tackles and a half sack. He added approximately 15 pounds this offseason to prepare for the switch to Hafley's 4-3. He plans to play in the 290-pound range this season.

Behind the returning edge rushers are practice-squad holdovers Keshawn Banks and Arron Mosby, Deslin Alexandre and Kenneth Odumegwu, a native of Nigeria who came to Green Bay as part of the NFL's International Player Pathway program.

The 6-foot-6, 259-pound pass rusher hadn't played organized football until last year but garnered praise from Packers players and coaches this spring for how far he’s come in a short period of time.

Odumegwu spent the 2023 season on Green Bay's practice squad under the international player exemption. He'd be eligible for the same provision if Odumegwu doesn't make the 53-man roster out of training camp.

On the interior, seventh-round pick Jonathan Ford is looking to earn a place on the 53-man roster after spending the past two seasons on Green Bay's practice squad. He's joined by undrafted rookie James Ester and former North Dakota State standout Spencer Waege, who was claimed off waivers from San Francisco in May.

Countdown to camp series:

QBs - Jordan Love resumes the reins for Packers

RBs - Packers undergo changing of the guard at running back

WR/TE - Plenty of quality, productive options at receiver/tight end for Packers

OL - Packers possess veteran experience across offensive front