The Green Bay Packers surprised a lot of people when they decided to not use their first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft on a pass catcher. New starting quarterback Jordan Love can use all the help he can get and every wide receiver and tight end in the draft class was still on the board when the Packers came on the clock at No. 13.
Instead, the team opted to bolster their pass rush, selecting versatile defensive lineman Lukas Van Ness out of Iowa. Van Ness has all of the tools to become a very good player at the next level, but one knock against him is a lack of experience.
He didn’t start a single game in college, instead playing a major role in a rotation among the defensive line. Will he be ready for a potentially large role right out of the gate with the Packers? It is something that the coaching staff will use offseason practices to gauge.
So far, the reviews have been very positive. Coaches who have worked with Van Ness have spoken very highly of the work that the Iowa product has done thus far. “Really, the thing that is intangible, is his mind. He’s a very, very smart, cerebral kid,” pass rush specialist Jason Rebrovich said.
“He has some versatility. Athletic enough that we can stand him up and play him on the edge, but then also, big and physical enough that we can move him up and down the line,” defensive coordinator Joe Barry said.
Even his teammates have taken notice. Rashan Gary isn’t participating in practice yet as he recovers from ACL surgery, but said, “Lukas is going to be one hell of a player for us.” Fellow pass rusher Preston Smith, who Van Ness could be a bookend with to start the season if Gary cannot get onto the field, said, “He has a lot of things that can help this team.”
In 26 games with the Hawkeyes, Van Ness picked up 19 tackles for loss and 13 sacks. Those are very impressive numbers for someone in a rotation as he made his presence felt whenever he stepped on the field.
The Packers will be looking for some production similar to that. His role could be a big one early in the season, especially if Gary isn’t ready to go, as the team desperately needs some pass-rushing juice. Van Ness is certainly capable of providing that, as his teammates and coaches are confident he will get the job done.